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| Progressive Rock CD Reviews |
| Track by Track Review
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La Verite Des Miracles
A cool, psychedelic sounding texture starts this instrumental, then a guitar crying out over an atmospheric keyboard texture takes it. New-ageish textures dominate for a time. Then a gradual building on these elements ensues. The melodies give way to more atmosphere, then a harder edged guitar melody takes the piece, washed over by keyboards. As this carries on, a spoken word sample comes over the top. Eventually all of this gives way to a fairly straightforward rocking sound. Still, this is interspersed and punctuated by unusual melody lines and eventually a Yesish texture enters the fray. This is a track that really keeps reinventing itself and becomes one heck of a strong prog jam. It is dramatic and powerful at times, and ever changing. |
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Torn Apart
Percussion begins this one, then a cool groove, a bit Crimsonish, ensues. This one is high-energy and both virtuosic and straightforward - no easy feat! This one should please both prog heads and fans of modern rock. The interplay between the guitar and bass is at times quite stunning. The outro is a cool, unexpected keyboard turn. |
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Under the Wheel
This has to have one of the coolest gritty sounds to the intro that this reviewer has ever heard. The vocals on the intro are a spoken edge over top of the musical element, more sound effects than singing. As the song proper enters, it is in a slightly Beatlesesque garage band sort of sound. Fans of modern King Crimson should enjoy this one. It is a very intriguing take on progressive rock with an extremely modern texture. The keyboard break is dramatic and a bit neo-classical. |
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Digging With the Spoon
Although much of this number is straightforward, it is still quite interesting. The instrumental break/outro should have enough prog changes to please most fans of the genre.
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Ahh!
Textural patterns begin and a weirdly processed spoken vocal line lends a weird mood that is actually just a little Alice Cooperish. Those vocals are essentially an oddly textured poetry reading. Mid-song a bass line enters, pulling the composition into new ground, but the spoken vocals and recurring melodies link the two segments. The guitar jamming late is pretty exceptional. |
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Stella
A drum machine type percussion line holds this one in while a guitar gently wails over top. A solid rocking groove builds from this basis and this instrumental track carries on with some exceptionally meaty bass work really standing out. This one is based in a slow mode, but it truly screams out --not out of metallic fury, but from very tasty jamming on all of the instruments. |
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Changing
Mellow tones begin this one, then percussion takes the piece. As keyboard patterns emerge, a dramatic building takes over. As the intro ends a more stripped down progression takes over and the dramatic vocals and arrangement calls to mind Spock's Beard just a bit. This is a very cool, albeit slightly understated piece. It somewhat switches gear later, going more full on prog in a somewhat Yes/Genesisish way. |
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Dave Goes to the Park
Atmospheric and mysterious sounds begin this one, and as the song proper enters it's in the form of a balladic prog style. The choruses get rather hard edged. It features an awesome break with an intriguing rhythmic texture. This is a very strong track with a lot of musical changes and a great vocal arrangement. |
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Whatever Falls
The title track, appropriately, seemingly falls out of the previous piece. This slow-paced number really feels a lot like a cross between Beard, Genesis and Pink Floyd. It is a gentle composition that moves quite nicely. |
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New West
Another that feels like it flows seamlessly right out from the number that preceded it, this is a killer instrumental groove that has a jazzy texture. Appropriately it is a bit in the style of the music of the old west. |
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