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The Underground Railroad - The Origin of Consciousness CD (album) cover

THE ORIGIN OF CONSCIOUSNESS

The Underground Railroad

 

Eclectic Prog

3.49 | 35 ratings

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Gatot
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
4 stars When I first listened to this album, the opening track reminds me to jazz music like those played by Chick Corea especially with the piano work. As the music moves along, I remember Echolyn as having similar style with the opening track "Julian Ur" (7:45). It's because of Chick Corea music is typically has no vocal except some with Flora Purim. This album by Underground Railroad has vocal line which is sung similar with Echolyn. The music in fact turns into slower tempo with keyboard solo, guitar solo and vocal line. The guitar work is really stunning. It then flows into faster tempo with next track "Julian I" (2:37) which reminds me to the combination of Weather Report and Brand X. The keyboard work at the background is really nice, especially when it's followed with guitar solo. It's quite unique in terms of composition because the rhythm section comprises heavy riffs like any typical rock / metal music but the melody line (through vocal) is jazzy in nature. "Love Is a Vagabond King" (10:40) provides great combination of piano, guitar and dynamic drums at the opening, followed with guitar solo in the vein of Allan Holdsworth. The song features nice breaks among transition pieces through nice piano work. I personally enjoy the exploration of guitar solo in the middle of the track which has a combined style of Allan Holdsworth and Jeff Beck. This is one of excellent songs this album offers.

"Halo" (8:21) opens the music with a combined work of keyboard and acoustic guitar followed with mellow vocal line, backed with long sustain keyboard work. The piano work that follows and also the guitar melody are truly stunning and this kind of music confirms me to the style of Echolyn music, especially in vocal department. What follows is a graet musical interlude demonstrating bass guitar, piano, guitar and dynamic drumwork. The basslines look very tight and quite dominant. The piano solo makes the music floating and it flows wonderfully from one segment to another. The guitar solo follows the musical interlude. It's stunning!

"The Canal at Sunset" (4:17) starts mellow with guitar and piano work followed with drums and vocal. "Metaphor" (2:59) starts with a dynamic bass lines and the following music is really like Echolyn or Finneus Gauge - it's excellent stream of music - especially with its complex guitar and piano work. Wow! I like it. "Creeper (The Doorman Pt. 2)" (13:26) is an epic which starts mellow and it moves into Holdsworth-like music through the sound of keyboard. It reminds me to Holdsworth's "Metal Fatigue" album. I can sense the bass guitar playing is really wonderful especially in this track. The album is concluded nicely with "Julian II" (8:54).

Overall, it's an excellent addition to any prog music collection and it's best offered to those who have been familiar with Echolyn, Finneus Gauge, Brand X, Allan Holdsworth or in fact Bill Bruford first three albums. I recommend this to all of you and I'm sure you will be satisfied. Keep on proggin' ..!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW

Gatot | 4/5 |

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