IN THE LAST WAKING MOMENTS...

We all know who Pete Trewavas (Marillion / Transatlantic) and Eric Blackwood are - but if you want to know more then go find their website and read the extensive bio information (plus play the video, but more importantly buy the album!) .... www.edisonschildren.com

So my take on the album (I'm not a pro reviewer, and do not have as wide a collection of source music or bands to pick on, so will just say what I see)

Overall...... i didn't get it at all the first time I listened to it. I had tried it in bits and pieces and really could not fathom the thing. But then.....I sat in the dark one night, cranked it up load, and sent myself on the ride that changed my whole world of understanding this album. it is a masterpiece than needs end to end playing and appreciation. Like Brave by Marillion or The Whirlwind by Transatlantic, you cannot get the hook and you do not do it justice unless you invest the time to focus on it and let it transport you to where ever you will go. Once you do that - then you will find yourself owning a real good player, worthy of the Prog Archives ranking as one of the best three albums of 2011, and something that you will come back to again and again and again.

The 20 pages of artwork are beautiful in the cd (I really like to own real items rather than downloads) and it can be bought directly from their site or from Racket Records on Marillion's site. (It's available elsewhere as well, but I refuse to buy things on sites where a majority of the money taken goes to fat ass corporations instead of the actual artists who have worked hard to make their work available in the first place)

Dusk.....The incredible intro piece - very spine tingling and moody complete with the vocals of a man sounding haggared and worn from his ordeal of what he believes is happening to him. The bongo's intro is very different, and the single guitar that slices into its rhythm makes me shiver when it comes in. It is very emotive, and I was surprised to find that Pete is not even playing bass on the first track - gotta love it when these guys mess with your expectations like that! It sets the tone for the album very well indeed.

Fracture (Fallout of the 1st kind) - Brings us crashing and burning into the reality of the protagonist of the album complete with thundering vocals and lead guitars and includes audio recording from actual air traffic control/pilot discussion regarding something that should not be there (This is used twice very effectively in the album - one of them is from a shuttle landing that was buzzed by a UFO! Funny how these things fail to make the news but are just out there if you know where to go find them)

In the first waking moments - gives us a reoccurring theme for the album - simple single guitar and a beautiful vocal.

A Million Miles Away - Why is this not being played on every radio station? Love love love love love

Fallout of the 2nd kind - Good solid rock, great vocals, excellent loud!!

Outerspaced - I wonder if the guys were spaced out when they did this bit. It took a few listens before I got into this track, but it does get to you in time. Hard to believe that little Pete of Marillion is screaming like a banshee. The axes really do rock this track too. Like I said - took me a while but I love it now.

Spiralling - soulful, mystical, spiritual and one of the best Steve Rothery solos I have ever head. 'Nuff said

The Other Other Dimension - Alien doctors doing experiments while Mark Kelley goes nuts with synths. Nuff said again.

Across the plains - Too short. A beautiful, simple composition. Great work on synthesized guitar.

In The Last Waking Moments - Great guest guitar work from Robin Boult (of Fish fame) and the whole piece builds and builds in momentum all the way to the finish line.

Lifeline - Thundering from end to end

Fallout of the 3rd kind - brings us back to that central theme once more, and kicks ass with its guitar work leading into the album's epic piece....

The Awakening - 15 and a half minutes of prog genius - contains it all, incredible music, spooky alien noises in the background, pilot/ground control recording, a ball busting beautiful acoustic solo by Pete, the Slow Burn in the middle, the breakdown of the protagonist of the story, a choir of voices including Steve Hogarth, and the ever excellent mastery of Ian Mosley taking the whole album higher and higher until it reaches its absolutely amazing crescendo.

Fallout of the 4th kind - what good is a scary thought provoking story unless it leaves you with a spine tingling ending? Scares the bejeebers out of me every time I listen to it.

I cannot say enough good things about this. All I would suggest is that people who have thought about it and have put it on their to-do list or have it as a possibly/maybe - then just go out there and buy it now. Turn the lights off, grab a drink, sit in the dark, turn it up load, and tell me that you are not moved and amazed and have goosebumps when it finishes.

Thank you for your time :)

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