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Progressive Rock CD Reviews

Burnt Belief Mutual Isolation Review by Gary Hill This new release from Burnt Belief is all class. Like the previous one I reviewed, it's fully instrumental. It really manages to do a good job of blending fusion, more pure jazz and progressive rock into something unique and effective. If anything, I think this might be a stronger release than that earlier one. This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2021 Volume 6. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2021.

Track by Track Review

Where It All Began (For TR) This rises up gradually from the ambient, transforming into a cool open and spacey fusion jam. The space elements and openness are big parts of the magic of this song. There are parts that are closer to the jazz end of the spectrum, and parts that are more rock oriented, but it's all space music based. This gets really intense and nearly ominous as it works to the ending.

Month of Moonlight I love the bass work as this gets going. The cut is another with plenty of both rock and jazz in the mix. The guitar really brings plenty of fusion to the piece.

Rosso Portofino There is a lot of cool jazz on this number, but also plenty of space, as well. The percussion is very much in the driver's seat early.

Resistential While not a whole rethinking, the space and jazz concept here is a bit slower and more introspective. It's no less compelling.

Perilous Terrain The cool is in full bloom as this starts. It has an almost funky and mysterious vibe at first. As the guitar section fires up it gets more rocking sound. This piece just keeps evolving and changing, though.

The Evolution of Disintegration A slower, mellower mode is on display here. This has some cool slow bass work and intriguing atmospherics. The guitar slices and dances across that tapestry with style. This generally intensifies and the guitar really is a big part of that. The number gets into some of the most purely prog rock based passages of the whole set. It becomes quite an intriguing number before it's over.

Precipitation I really love the bass sound on this. Parts of the song make me think of Al Di Meola to some degree. The jazz and rock elements both get their representation here, and this is another strong piece of music.

Divine Rascal The percussion and bass bring this into being. The track works out from there to more killer fusion jamming. This isn't a full reinvention, but it is another effective piece of music. I'm reminded a bit of Spyro Gyra on this song.

Expanse This comes in particularly mellow and atmospheric. Piano brings things more to the fore in short passages as it continues. The number continues to build gradually, feeling a bit like Tangerine Dream.

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