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Progressive Rock CD Reviews

The Infinity Zoo

ForeverScape EPisode 1

Review by Gary Hill

Carlos Severe Marcelin is a busy guy. Not only is he part of the Sally Tomato group, but he just released a solo album and this collaboration project with drummer Eric Flint. The music here (like the bulk of his solo album) is instrumental. It's also prog-based. This is a compelling set with some potent musical arrangements and performances. There is enough variety here to make a full set of instrumentals really work. That says a lot as music without vocals can get a bit repetitive and dull if not done with enough skill. That's never a concern here. If you dig classic instrumental prog with a modern angle, give this a try. It should be noted that there is also a film (featuring art by Vance Feldman) to accompany this music. If that's not a prog, art-rock thing to do, I don't know what is.

This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) in Music Street Journal: 2020  Volume 4. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2020.

Track by Track Review
Jubilation Primordial
Killer proggy instrumental sound brings this into being. The cut continues to shift and evolve from there. In so doing it shows off both a classic prog and some definite fusion leanings. The keyboard textures are noteworthy, but everything here is worth notice.
And the Rested Shall Awaken Thee
This reminds me of guys like Joe Satriani and Steve Vai. It's a real guitar shredding kind of exploration. A more keyboard based movement takes over later. There are some more electronic percussion elements at play, too.
Drones Follow
I dig the sort of melodic fantasy that seems to make up this song. It's a bit more "song-like" with an almost folk rock basis. Yet, they still manage to pull some diversity and dynamic range into it. I really love the percussion on this piece, but the magic of the sound is present throughout all parts of the arrangement.
Liquid Skies
There is a freeform weirdness to this piece. It's keyboard-based, electronically tinged and compelling despite being chaotic and challenging. It's also short at less than a minute-and-a-half.
Warriors
There is an exploratory vibe to this piece. The cut moves and grooves with style as a melodic rocker. This is another that's more song-oriented. It has a bit of a dreamy quality to it in some ways. There is some particularly expressive guitar work later in the piece.
Temporal Signals
I love the soaring guitar lines on this killer tune. There are hints of fusion built into this beast. The whole cut really keeps upping the intensity as it drives forward. This might be the strongest number here, making it a great choice for closer. There is a cool shift to a frantic jam later along the road. When it comes back out from there the guitar playing is fierce.
  
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