MOONBABIES

I've only recently come across this site and Mr. Sherinian, so I could be accused of not being entirely up to speed, but "Moonbabies" has forced itself on to the CD player virtually everyday and I hadn't done that since 1978 listening to "Xanadu" by Rush! Never heard anything quite like it and I've heard a lot over the years.

I hadn't really listened to anything from Macalpine since "Eyes of the World" in 1990 and was pleasantly surprised to hear his style had changed a bit, with some distinctly Holdsworth type sounds and licks in there; no bad thing! So many guitarists sound exactly the same twenty years after you first heard them!

First track is great at setting the scene and getting you hooked. I couldn't really get past the first 3 tracks, feeling there was so much to try and pick out with the time signatures and enjoying some great lines, especially the opening of "Ataraxia". A bit of UK, Holdsworth and Chick Corea Elektric Band seem to jump out at you with first listening but eventually the songs form their own identity, with something special in every track. The opening of "Ground Zero" is terrific. I love the way you tune in to the keyboard part then when the drums come in it just knocks you for six and the huge chords in "Ignotus per Ignotium" get the hairs on the back of the neck up.

The annoying thing for me is I'm dying to get my hands on a score of the music just to see what's actually going on! Maybe that says something about me as a musician?! Are you sure that's not Holdsworth playing the solo in "Ground Zero"? I believe he's already recorded about 5 tracks for the next CD.

One downside which bothered me a bit, Dream Theater too, the feeling some of the time signatures were done for the wrong reasons and take away from some aspects of the music, I get a similar feeling here.

Anyway, it's a minor consideration and I thoroughly recommend a listen at least, as it challenges you on every level, great stuff! The production is great and it sounds like a group of musicians playing for each other, with the "band" being more important than the individual. Everybody loves that feeling of something coming out of the blue, grabbing your attention and making you laugh, in a good way, about how outrageous it is, well it did it for me.

p.s. I've noticed a review by Chris Jackson has given some time signatures, I'll go and have a listen!