Rafael Pacha first came to my attention as part of The Samurai Of Prog universe, collaborating with such acts as Kimmo Pörsti, Guildmaster and Inner Prospekt. His exceptional talents on a huge variety of instruments have lifted all the music he has been part of, bringing not only the requisite guitar heroics but unexpected colours, such as zither, krumhorn and viola da gamba. Not Normal After Music unites several of his collaborators over the years as The Friends Of (Con)Fusion for a jazz-inflected, largely instrumental outing.
If you’re expecting flashy guitar workouts, you’re in for a bit of a surprise. Pacha is quite a generous bandleader. While the compositions might be his, the performances highlight the talents of every musician involved. This, however, is not a “look at what I can do” album. Rather, each instrumentalist colours within the lines, making for a complete song experience, rather than a series of over-the-top solos. As a result, the music feels a bit tame, but not in a bland way. Perfect for a Sunday morning with the newspaper and a mug of hot tea.
Contradiction begins the album with Michael Manring’s slinky fretless bass and Pacha’s acoustic guitar. Alessandro Di Benedetti’s electric piano and Kimmo Pörsti’s finessed drumming build a solid foundation so that the strong electric guitar and synth melody feels like it is floating over the proceedings. Shifting time signatures and a plethora of keyboard sounds will satisfy any die-hard progster. Pacha’s low whistle expands the sonic palette, but no one ever cuts loose from the mellow vibe. El Diablo Cuando Se Aburre… features sumptuous grand piano along with 70s-inspired keyboard sounds. The guitar stays mainly in the background until the three minute mark when it takes the spotlight for a sweet, jazzy solo. A special mention goes to Jan-Olaf Strandberg’s bass lines which are prominent, melodic and insistent.
Joy lives up to its title, finally picking up the tempo. Pacha follows in the footsteps of the great George Benson with his tone and pop/jazz licks. While I would have liked to hear more guitar, the keys and bass play co-starring roles. Pörsti’s drumming is busy yet avoids being intrusive, instead creating a winding pathway for the other musicians to stroll happily through. An alternate version, tacked on to the end of the album, features Pacha and Pörsti as the only instrumentalists. Not as buoyant as the first take, it is nonetheless worthy as a showcase for some deft drumming and for bringing Pacha’s keyboard skills to the fore. The album’s epic centrepiece is the eighteen plus minute Plowman Of The Sky, the first of two vocal tracks. Based on a story by Antoine Saint Exupery, the title references the condensation trails left behind an airplane. Di Benedetti and Paula Pörsti share the vocal duties, which at times can feel like an afterthought. That said, Paula’s interpretation of the “child” in the song adds a welcome dimension. Nothing strays far from the established template, all taste and restraint. Where the piece falls short for me is in the transitions between the multiple sections. They feel abrupt, rather than taking the time to build a bridge from one idea to the next. The music, though, is beautiful, with the third section featuring funky bass and Risto Salmi’s tenor sax for one of the best instrumental sections on the disc. Overall, Plowman has a Trespass-era Genesis feel, updated with contemporary flourishes, especially in the more propulsive sections. Pörsti’s drums say as much with what he does not play as with what he does, highlighting the jazz elements of the song.
When In Doubt… comes from one of Pacha’s teachers advising him, “When in doubt, increase the complexity of what you do.” No surprise then that this is the album’s proggiest piece, full of quirky time signatures and up-front guitar. The acoustic guitar lines are exquisitely mirrored by the bass while sax plays along sympathetically. It’s obvious that each musician is masterful, but no one hogs the spotlight, not even the man whose name sits above the title. Top Of The Hill seems to borrow its inspiration from the piano works of Vince Guaraldi, setting up many unison lines between the guitar and keys in another delightful up-tempo romp. More tasteful bass, sax and guitar solos take the song on a breezy journey, but listen to what happens beneath and around them to fully appreciate the immersive quality of the music. According to the liner notes, Silence Is A Sticker is about silence as a response to self-involved people. If anything, the music feels more like a kind and generous response which adheres to the album’s light jazz formula.
The final track sounds like a downer on paper, but turns out to be anything but. Based on a dying friend’s ruminations on what lies ahead, this is another vocal piece featuring the talents of John Wilkinson. When he sings “I wonder where I’ll be / or if I’ll feel anything / maybe it’s a blackout / or will there be light?” it is with just the right touch of bemusement. The mood is light and playful with an edge of unease about it. The instrumentation, particularly the guitar and organ, feel in defiance of the dying of the light. A standout track.
Not Normal After Music comes from a 1920 article which claims that “Jazz music produces a fevered disorder of the brain leading to bad temper, slackness, lassitude and bad health”. Apparently I have some form of immunity as I experienced none of these symptoms. What I did feel was calm and relaxed. The album as a whole can come across as a bit formulaic with its mostly midtempo songs and the refusal of any one instrument to just break out and wail, but there is something to be said for a group of artists that don’t need to shout from the rooftops about their own chops. This is music for quieter times, too smart to be thought of as background music, too restrained to have you playing along on your air guitar. Rafael Pacha and friends have created a mood, so sink into your overstuffed sofa and enjoy.
TRACK LISTING
01. Contradiction (6:21)
02. El Diablo Cuando Se Aburre… (5:21)
03. Joy (4:16)
04. Plowman Of The Sky (18:34)
05. When In Doubt… (6:31)
06. Top Of The Hill (5:41)
07. Silence Is A Sticker (6:15)
08. Wonder If I’ll Be (7:07)
~ Bonus track:
09. Joy (alternative version) (4:19)
Total Time – 64:25
MUSICIANS
Rafael Pacha – Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Keyboards, Low Whistle, Portuguese Guitar, Zither, Recorder, Percussion, Bodhran, Electric Violin, Viola Da Gamba
Jan-Olaf Strandberg – Fretted & Fretless Basses
Michael Manring – Zon Hyperbass
Alessandro De Benedetti – Keyboards, Grand Piano, Vocals
Kimmo Pörsti – Drums & Percussion
Risto Salmi – Soprano & Tenor Sax
Toni Jokinen – Distorted Electric Guitar
Paula Pörsti – Vocals
John Wilkinson – Vocals
ADDITIONAL INFO
Record Label: Seacrest Oy
Country of Origin: International
Date of Release: 30th January 2026
LINKS
Rafael Pacha – Website (at Seacrest Oy) | Facebook | Facebook (TSOP) | Bandcamp | YouTube | X | Instagram
