SHE

If you, like me, were expecting something like a neo prog record when you heard about Clive Nolan´s latest release, forget it. Although some of neo prog´s best muscians and vocalists are featured here, like bassist John Jowitt (IQ, Jadis), guitarrist Mark Westwood (Neo), the new Pendragon drummer Scott Higham, singers Chtistina Booth (Magenta) and Alan Reed (Pallas), among others, there is almost nothing really neo here, or even prog. She is much a rock opera in the tradition of such famous plays like Jesus Christ Superstar, Hair or The Phantom Of The Opera. And in this field Clive Nolan´s double CD is highly successful.

Although I´m not really a big fan of broadway musicals or even rock operas (both of which seems to be the best references for She), no one can denies Nolan´s talents and the power of this work. It is his most ambiotious project to date. The music is linked to the storyline, so there is no instrumental interludes or even real guitar or keyboards solos. And that´s the only fault I can point in the whole record. It could be even better if a little room could be given for the musicians involved to stretch their muscles once in a while.

The vocal perfomances are the highlight of the entire work: both Christina Booth and Alan Reed are perfect in their roles, while Agneiszka Swita is definitly a great find. Even Clive Nolan´s voice work very well here. Prodution is spotless, the orchestral arrangements are great and the mixing is very well done. there are no fillers, even though, as a double CD, some parts are better than others, depending mostly on your taste, not the quality of the tracks.

All in all a great record. Just don´t expect anything like Pendragon or even Arena. Clive Nolan has done something quite different and bold. She only proves he is one of the msot outstanding and talented songwriters around (prog or not prog). A masterpiece, specially if yoiu´re a fan of musicals.