The mix of sounds on this is great. They work between mainstream prog, fusion, world music and a lot more. For my money the opener is probably the weakest cut here. It’s okay, but a bit lightweight for my tastes. This is a good disc, though, even with that taken into consideration.
This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2013 Volume 5 at lulu.com/strangesound.
Track by Track Review
Breaking Barriers
Sort of a light-hearted pop oriented progressive rock sound is here. In some ways, it makes me think of a more proggy version of The Buggles. Although, that doesn’t account for the female vocals.
Streamlined Here we get something more like killer fusion. There is symphonic progressive rock in the mix, too. This instrumental is much meatier than the opening tune was.
Diesel Engine This is a killer, often unaccompanied, bass solo.
A Kumma Ki The first couple minutes of this is a percussion solo. Then world music and other elements enter as it carries forward. It’s a fun tune that has some bits of space rock built into it at times.
Scottish Mystery A bit of Celtic music opens this. Then we get a burst of space rock. From there, though, it turns out into some potent fusion with Celtic leanings. At different points different elements seem to dominate. There’s a mellower section with more of a mainstream progressive rock element at play.
Leaves Are Falling Here’s a more mainstream progressive rock cut. As opposed to the opener, though, this one is a lot meatier. It has some killer twists and turns and the vocal arrangement is potent, too.
I Felt Like It... This tune is mellower. It’s pretty and rather dreamy in nature and texture.
