Ukrainian Prog-Rock quartet SEALAND AIRLINES is the result of four musicians with different tastes, getting together to create something unique and unexpected...four wannabe journalists with a taste for telling stories in their own way. Their songs are filled to the brim with science fiction, action and allusions to cinema and pop culture; set to the sound of a mix of 70's rock, 80's synthesizers, Jazzy Rhodes and organs, bass riffs with layers and inventive drum patterns. Their debut album contains eight tracks.

"Garrison" leads off the album. It opens with some vocal "oohs" and then the old school keys kick in, high with vibrato. The main riff dances together nicely with the keys and the song has a certain swing to it. "Sailing Girl" has a more 80's Pop vibe to it, and I dig it. The vocals are smooth and the sound is positive. Artem plays bouncy bass notes and the keys have an eerie sound to them. This song is catchy and hypnotic. "Railway Man" opens with keys and little heavier guitars. It's a mid-tempo song with an odd main riff. The sounds in the vocals and guitars are staccato, and the keys keep in in the 70's theme. It picks up around the half-way mark, with fast moving bass notes and some outer space type charm, then it finishes with a smooth and mellow passage.

"The Danger" opens with a groovy, fuzzy riff and a little keyboard. It's an upbeat track with a smooth vocal cadence. Some harmonies come into play in the chorus, and the guitars stamp the sound with some oomph. It drops to just some bass notes after the half-way mark, along with a little guitar and drums, and then it returns. "We Have What We Have" is a shorter song with some pop sensibility. Equal does of guitar, bass, and keys compliment the easy-listening vocals. I get a slight VOLA vibe in this song, at least the more melodic side of the band. "Revenge" is just under four-minutes. Some drum fills lead off the song, along with a swinging bass line. This song moves forward fairly quickly. The harmonies in the vocals are nice. A little guitar solo comes along as well, and it ends with some heavier, slower tones.

"Salia Ann" is the longest on the album, at just under seven-minutes in length. It builds slowly in the opening, to a calm and peaceful sound. Here is also where some flute notes come into play, in an extended instrumental passage. The entire song sound like a soundtrack to a secluded beach vacation. "The Mountain" closes the album. It opens on the attack a bit, eventually settling into a groovy riff. Drummer Iurii Khomik varies his style a lot and you can feel his confidence behind the kit.

SEALAND AIRLINES is a very unique but pleasing band, with their own sense of style. The music on their self-titled album varies quite a bit, from 70's anthems to 80's Pop, and everything in between. I am usually surprised with Ukrainian bands and not a lot that I know of play this style of Progressive Rock. But if you are fan of bands like KANSAS, GENESIS, RUSH, and even TOTO, give these guys your time. The music here is warm and imaginative and unabashedly their own, and the band displays a high level of musicianship without overdoing it.