Take a Henning Pauly production and throw it in the oven. What comes out is sheet of well-baked Shrinky-Dinks severed into eleven elegant pieces. That's what this album is all about. Each song stands on its own with a strong hook and catchy melodies. A lot is compressed into each cut as no moment is wasted. None of the tracks go beyond a few minutes and there isn't an ounce of filler. It's debatable if this is truly prog or merely well-written pop. Yet, it absolutely has Henning Pauly appeal. In other words, it's very good music.

The big difference comes in the singer-songwriter department. Edward Heppenstall, an artist who sings in a couple places on Pauly's Chain.exe, is the exclusive voice that's featured on this album. In addition to the singing, the songwriting is pure Heppenstall as well. While Henning states he merely showed up, took finished songs, and just performed them for the recording, his markings are certainly carved within its molding. For the most part, this "is" a solo effort, but it's made to be much more through the help of one "skilled" producer.

Altogether, the album is a great collaboration of two talented minds. I'd log this along with the rest of this year's worthy listens. While these parts might hate him, they certainly suit me just fine.

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2005 Year Book Volume 1 at https://garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2005.