vinylfanatics.com

**Kashmir - No Balance Palace**
★★★★☆

In the grand tradition of Danish bands with mystical monikers and progressive leanings, Kashmir have always occupied a peculiar space in the European rock landscape. By the time they reached their fourth studio album, 2005's "No Balance Palace," the Copenhagen quintet had already established themselves as masters of atmospheric bombast, wielding everything from string sections to electronic textures with the confidence of seasoned orchestral conductors. What emerged was their most cohesive statement yet – a sprawling, ambitious work that somehow managed to feel both expansive and intimate.

The journey to "No Balance Palace" wasn't without its turbulence. Following 2003's "Zitilites," Kashmir found themselves at something of a crossroads. The Danish music scene was evolving rapidly, with electronic influences seeping into even the most traditionally rock-oriented acts. Rather than resist this tide, Kashmir chose to dive headfirst into experimentation, spending the better part of two years crafting what would become their most sonically adventurous release. The album's title itself suggests the precarious balancing act the band was attempting – juggling their progressive rock foundations with an increasingly electronic palette.

Musically, "No Balance Palace" defies easy categorization, which is precisely its strength. This is progressive rock for the post-rock generation, where Radiohead's electronic paranoia meets the cinematic scope of Sigur Rós, all filtered through a distinctly Scandinavian sensibility. Kasper Eistrup's vocals remain the band's secret weapon – a instrument capable of soaring operatic heights one moment and intimate whispers the next. His voice serves as the emotional anchor throughout the album's 70-minute runtime, preventing the elaborate arrangements from overwhelming the songs' core humanity.

The album opens with "Mouthful of Wasps," a track that immediately establishes the record's ambitious scope. Built around a hypnotic electronic pulse, the song gradually accumulates layers of strings, processed guitars, and Eistrup's multi-tracked vocals until it reaches an almost overwhelming crescendo. It's a bold opening gambit that announces Kashmir's intentions from the first note. "The Push" follows with a more traditional rock approach, though even here the band can't resist adding orchestral flourishes and unexpected rhythmic shifts that keep listeners perpetually off-balance.

Perhaps the album's finest moment comes with "Ramparts," a nine-minute epic that perfectly encapsulates everything Kashmir does best. Beginning with delicate piano and strings, the track slowly builds through several distinct movements, incorporating electronic beats, soaring guitar lines, and one of Eistrup's most emotionally devastating vocal performances. It's the kind of song that demands to be experienced in its entirety, rewarding patient listeners with a journey that feels genuinely transformative.

"Jewel Drop" showcases the band's more experimental tendencies, built around a foundation of programmed beats and processed vocals that wouldn't sound out of place on an Aphex Twin album. Yet Kashmir manages to maintain their essential identity even in these more abstract moments, largely thanks to their impeccable sense of dynamics and space. The band understands that silence can be just as powerful as sound, and they're not afraid to let their arrangements breathe.

The album's emotional centerpiece, "The New Gold," strips away much of the elaborate production in favor of a more direct approach. Here, Kashmir proves they don't need orchestras and electronics to create powerful music – sometimes a well-placed guitar line and Eistrup's voice are more than sufficient to create magic.

In the years since its release, "No Balance Palace" has grown in stature, particularly among progressive rock enthusiasts who appreciate its refusal to conform to genre expectations. While Kashmir may not have achieved the international recognition of some of their Scandinavian contemporaries, this album stands as a testament to their unique vision and unwavering commitment to pushing boundaries.

The record's legacy lies in its demonstration that progressive rock could evolve beyond its 1970s origins without losing its essential spirit of adventure. Kashmir created something genuinely forward-thinking here – an album that sounds like the future while honoring the past, a delicate balance achieved within their deliberately unbalanced palace.