FROM DREAMING TO DREAMING

I guess that this is the first review on this site of this group. I lvery much liked this CD, it is not a masterpiece, but is very enjoyable. The music is more on the folk side of prog, and while very good, not very complicated either. Regardless, it is extremely enjoyable. The interplay between the vocals of Clark Boone and Diana Oxendine are lovely. For the most part, he does one song, then she does one, with some songs having an interplay between the two of them. He has somewhat of an off, gruff voice (on early listens was somewhat reminicent of the vocalist for Crash Test Dummies), and she has a beautiful voice. The rest of the musicians are quite good, with some very good keyboard and guitar work. Oxendine also has some nice flute overlays also. There is one masterpiece song on this, Sojurn, which is the longest song, and just a great, great song. In particular, the way Boone and Oxendine play off each other on the vocals is fabulous, and the song has a wondeful melody. Overall, the CD is very melodic. All the songs are good, but only Sojurn being a masterpiece. Overall I wood give the CD 3 3/4 stars. Its more than good, but not excellent.

Farpoint is a six member band from South Carolina, USA giving us some very interesting, simple and direct progressive rock full of light and energy. Their approach is reminiscent of folk progressive with a touch of hard country rock. Some songs remind me of Mostly Autumn, the Moody Blues and some guitar riffs of Nick Barrett of Pendragon. Hence, we have here some hard edge rock mixed with impressive vocals and symphonic progressive. Still, there is some unique blend of music here. Straight guitars playing the very high notes with almost no distortion, great female vocalist in Dana Oxendine) with an alternating male vocalist in the likes of Ritchie Havens (Clark Boone), excellent twelve string guitar, bass and drums with wonderful flute. The music is simple, straight and to the point. The musicians of Farpoint mean serious business and it shows in the energy, the straight style, and in the writing and lyrics. This album has some excellent and wonderful songs such as Sojourn, Crying in the Rain, O Lost and Ashley's song. If you want more than 74 min of progressive rock music with some variety in songs, this is it. I am anxious to see the next album from this band.

Not much has changed in the Farpoint universe from their debut to their third album. It's pretty much the same formula of raunchy R&B influenced songs alternating with folkier ballads, all with an earnest Christian slant. Acoustic guitars and organs predominate, with the gruff male and angelic female vocals reminding of MOSTLY AUTUMN, although here the contrast is even greater.

On "From Dreaming to Dreaming", most of the harder edged tracks occur early, and seem less authentic than the more melodic tunes. Probably the best example of the combination of styles into one piece is the sublime "Crying In the Rain", with its crunching organ dominated verses giving way to a sensitive floating chorus in which both singers play call and response roles. But the track of most progressive interest is the 10 minute "Sojourn", which combines immediately catchy moments with more intricate segments. The lead guitar is especially soaring here. Other noteworthy tunes include "Nothing at all" and its sister "Anything at all", and "O Lost", which reminds me of late 60s/early 70s folk music brought into the new millennium. Lovely flute work here, and a final muscular boost of electric guitar.

As usual, FARPOINT delivers an above average disc of accessible prog folk with symphonic and heavy tendencies. At this point it might be unrealistic to expect more, but I suppose one can dream.