THE RED PLANET

Take The six wives of Henry VIII to space. Literally, that is how you are going to feel when you hear this album, from the magnificent intro to the epic finale. Rick Wakeman melts the classic textures, sounds and changes of that album with modern sounds that add a new dimension to his music (spacesynth breaks included!). I really like the guitar work, which reminds even Mike Oldfield in some passages (e.g. Arsia Mons).

This is a concept album, as the musical ideas, song tittles and overall feeling seem to tell the listener a story, but this is an instrumental album, so all you have to do is sit, relax, close your eyes and let the music create your particular martian story.

Overall, I am giving 4.3 stars to this, as I don't find it perfect, but it is the best album Rick Wakeman has composed since 1973, no less, no more.

Recommended for all fans of classic progressive rock and an essential work.