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Gayle Ellett & The Electromags

The Painted River of Light

Review by Gary Hill

This is the third release from this act I’ve reviewed. It seems like each one is better than those that came before it. This is made up of four epic pieces of instrumental music. They range in length from around ten-and-a-half minutes to fourteen plus minutes. The sounds vary and shift and change, but they are decidedly prog rock based. This is definitely the best release they have done so far.

This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2025  Volume 2. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2025.
Track by Track Review
The Illuminating Sands of Time

There is a mellow texture as this track threatens to start. It feels both synthetic and symphonic. Eventually the track fills out with a cool rocking groove taking over. It has a very organic feeling to it other than the synthesizer that comes over the top. This thing really intensifies later as it works out toward fusion jamming. The track continues to shift and change as it drives forward. This has a number of twists and turns along the road. It turns very mellow nearer the end of the track, and those modes eventually end it.

Deep Waters Glow Brightly

I really love the progressive rock meets jazz and other concepts on here. This is another that shifts and changes a lot. At time it has what sounds like crowd conversation like you might hear in a crowded restaurant. There are some voices on this, but I think they might be synthetic. After working through a number of modes and vibes, this shifts around the halfway mark to a driving, psychedelically driven jam that leans toward space rock at times. It eventually gets into more driving prog territory as it continues to explore.

Frequency Modulation

Moving through a radio dial and occasionally hitting music is the idea as this starts. It eventually settles on a jam that has hints of country along with plenty of Pink Floyd vibes at play. This continues to evolve and develop getting into some pretty crazed territory at times, but always maintain some great prog stylings.

The Rhodes to Discovery

This has some of the most traditional prog jamming of the set. That’s just at various points along the road, though. Like everything here, this seems to shift and change. It’s always built on killer instrumental music. There is a wide range of sounds with some feeling more retro and other parts more modern. It twists and turns, but also always thrills.

 
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