YESTERDAY'S FUTURE, TOMORROW'S PAST

This album sounds pretty fresh and full of dynamics and it is quite daring to create an epic of over thirty-six (yes 36!) minutes on a debut album; even if the five parts are clearly marked.

This is a good mix of bombastic keys, fine vocals and pleasant instrumental harmonies. Even if some parts are less interesting, the whole of The Grand Design (I bet you!) is a fine musical moment. I felt absolutely not bored with this lengthy song: it is sufficiently varied to avoid this. And believe me, to be able to keep the listener's attention for such a long time is not an easy affair. Still, brilliant parts aren't too many either. Otherwise, it would have been a masterpiece, right?

The fourth part (Fanfare) is the most energetic one. Keys are strong of course, but there is also a very good guitar solo on a crazy and jazzy background: the whole sounds pretty dynamic and breaks the overall mood which is usually softer. It is a fine interlude.

It is true to say that the closing section (six minutes) is not as good: I would have expected some more grandeur to finish this epic. But it won't come. Too bad.

The other songs are (relatively) short pieces which are more on the neo side like the good and speedy opening Wake The Dragon or the synth oriented instrumental Timeless Moments In Sherwood sounding like Genesis.

If ever you are in the mood of a romantic ballad, you can listen to Searching: somewhat mellowish but featuring a great guitar solo.

And we'll even get a cover: Afterglow. It starts with some notes from Dance On A Vulcano. Vocals are rather flat and lacks the passion of Phil while he was singing this great piece of music (one of the highlights from Wind & Wuthering IMHHO). It also ends with some guitar work which is not too bad and brings another angle to this song.

This is a very even album; nice to listen to the opening number to the closing one with no need to press any next key but it lacks of ground breaking songs as well. Three stars.

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