V

This album has a very vintage prog feel which makes it timeless, just like YES did with 'Close To The Edge'. The use of rather uncommon instruments, acoustical ones, such as the French horn, trumpet, violins and the like has enriched the sound and thereby our sonic experience (if you have ever watch the DVD 'The Making Of V', you will know how complex it is to make a part of a song while keeping in mind the whole structure of the song and the sound that may come out from the combination between that particular part and others, in this DVD the recording session of the acoustical instrument was very interesting). The sound itself has SPOCK'S BEARD signature all over it, yet, one will notice that there was a progression from their previous album (the more pop-oriented 'Day For Night'), just like GENESIS made a progression from 'Wind And Wuthering' to 'A Trick Of The Tail': different direction but similar sound. A few repetitions from their past albums were there, but new sound, tricks and treats (great guitar leads, big keyboard sound, flawless drumming, great vocal arrangement) were also significantly evidence. Therefore, this is a good SPOCK'S BEARD album.

'At The End Of The Day' makes a good solid album opening. It's a classic SPOCK'S BEARD song with a handful of elements from their previous albums, yet it is not a boring repetition. As indicated above, the use of a 'non-prog' instruments were very effective in emulating an enjoyable prog sound. The prog feast was served later at the end of the album by way of the epic 'The Great Nothing'. Elsewhere, Neal Morse proudly dubbed this song as the band's 'Supper's Ready', and indeed it did has the grand feel of that GENESIS classic, of course with more modern sound, and much more fierce attitude in attacking their musical instruments resulting in big bombastic tasteful sound. The utilization of a sound effect namely the pouring liquid sound that running from one channel to the other was brilliant (my eight years old son, loves it very much, and he instantly becomes an avid SPOCK"S BEARD fan!). For track by track review, one may check the review from a special collaborator of this website, Mr. Gatot Widayanto. Highly recommended! (Nirarta,Indonesia)