A PLACE IN THE QUEUE

The Tangent's third Studio album A Place in the Queue is breathtaking, mesmerizing, and an amazing effort by one of modern symphonic prog's most revered projects. It's the quintessential modern symphonic prog concept album dealing with different political and social aspects of society including economics to war. The album's concept becomes increasingly clearer with each listen and increasingly more addictive.

Andy Tillison is the creative force behind the project. He does most of the keyboards and Moogtrons along with the lead vocals and depth guitars. Tillison's keyboard skills are top class showing off incredible soloing skills and creative sounds from both his keyboard and the Moogtron. Tillison's vocal performance is good as well. He clearly enunciates every lyric and never finds himself off key. Tillison did an amazing job composing and performing this album.

Jonas Reingold is one of my favorite bassists, and he was one of the reasons why I decided to buy this album the second I picked it up. Reingold is definately the leading figure of bassists in the modern symphonic prog world. His walking lines add so much depth behind the melody and his solo in Follow Your Leaders is nothing less than amazing. Reingold shows how bass can lay down the groove but play extremely techincal and melodic lines throughout every performance.

Jaimie Salazar does a great job on drums. His jazzy style is perfect for the variant influences of Andy Tillison. The second track Lost in London shows just how jazzy this band can get, but also how quickly they can switch into heavier styles with poignant instrumental parts.

Krister Jonsson must take quite a bit of influence from Roine Stolt, who played on earlier Tangent albums. Jonsson's performance is so strong that I really don't feel like Stolt did any more for the band. Jonsson's performance may never reach the acclaim of Stolt's, but in terms of quality, these guitarists are equally matched.

Theo Travis' contribution on woodwinds is essential. Without those excellent improvised Sax and Flute solos, this album would miss the character that makes it so amazing.

Guy Manning does a spectacular job on acoustic guitars and other assorted strings (12 strings, mandolins, and etc). Manning's playing shows the variation of this group switching from strong, dark, and heavy tones to soft, light, and jazzy tones.

Sam Baine adds a very unqiue flavor to the project. The Tangent is able to use two keys players. Tillison on Moogs, organs, and pianos collaborating with Sam Baine on synths and pianos. This creates a unique and interesting atmosphere with two keyboardists playing in harmony. The two keyboardists add not only a great array of tones, but also unique intervals that are quite open and resolute and other times being close and dissonant.

The production is top quality, just like the rest of this album. Every note is audible. The keyboards and Moogtrons have inventive tones and not just the standard guitar center stock tones. The guitars are thick and buttery when they need to be, but retain a softer jazzier character. The drums cut through and the cymbals are pleasant with some slight force. The bass is audible and clear as always from Mr. Reingold. The vocals are clear, enunciated, and huge. They really fill the space of the recording. All in all, perfect production.

This is definately a five star effort.

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