REASON

What a pleasant surprise by this US band from Connecticut,USA.Formed in 1997 in Fairfield County,SCAPELAND WISH claim to be influenced by various musical styles such as Classic Prog,Fusion,Pop and Prog Metal.Josh Ramirez (drums/vocals), Mike Stiskal (bass/keyboards/backing vocals) and Kevin Forsberg (guitars) were helped by some friends on the vocal parts of their first recording ''Reason'',which was privately pressed in 2000

...and it is a fact that ''Reason'' is heavily based on its lyrical content and elaborated melodies.Lead vocalist Josh Ramirez has a warm and emotional voice,perfectly suited in the band's atmospheric musicianship,while the multiple polyphonic harmonies make this work even sweeter and more elegant.Musically speaking there is only one band, that springs to mind, while listening to ''Reason'':ENCHANT.The album is deeply rooted in light interplays, great guitar solos, grandiose piano passages, sensational melodies close to the composing of ENCHANT's Douglas Ott.SCAPELAND WISH'es approach is definitely artistic and their style is actually not easily comparable.Some songs are closer to Pomp Prog (ASIA, SAGA, NEW ENGLAND) featuring strong vocal arrangements and over-sweet music material,some others are closer to melodic Heavy Prog,while a few short instrumental parts contain complicated jazzy solos as well...but notice that all this unrelated material is nicely mixed and superbly arranged by this talented band.

For fans of light progressive/art rock with fantastic lyrical moments this would be an ear's heaven!By my side ''Reason'' is an absolutely magnificent album that deseves to be spread wider!4 shiny stars!