LAST MAN ON EARTH

Relayer ditched it's keyboard player for this release, so singer John Sahagian and guitarist Tim Laroi took over the duties. The result is atmospheric keyboard washes rather than a soloing instrument, nether player stretches out. Guitar dominates the music, which reduces the Prog element, but seems to free the band to play more immediate "live" sounding music. The Yes moments from Teething Fashion are pretty much non-existent. The members have eshewed the flavorings for a more hard rock approach. There are a few lighter moments, but over-all, they show off their rock chops.

The vocals are the key here. John Sahagian has a voice that demands to be heard. He still has the Freddie Mercury inflections as I stated on the Teething Fashion review, but is more straight ahead here, then the playfulness of the past. For me, this is the strength of Relayer. The bass playing of Tom Burke really comes out in this release, nice heavy bottom, not flashy, just solid. Bill Kiser keeps things together with strong drumming and tasteful fills. Not flashy either. Simply a solid foundation for Tim Laroi's chunky guitar work. Laroi's playing is neither over the top nor understated. He plays for the song. It all seems to work in an organic fashion, everything meshes and creates a lush sonic cornucopia of tones and melodies.

They aren't playing anything new or groundbreaking, what they are playing is just great music with some key prog elements; shifting gears from quiet, soft interludes to powerful climaxes, long multi-segmented tunes with odd meters, highly professional instrumental passages and well written lyrics. This is an album made to be played live.

This disc would appeal to fans of Salem Hill, IZZ, Marillion, Jadis...... Queen? Only if you liked when Freddie rocked.

Since this release is from 1999 and they don't appear to have a web site. I'm forced to assume they are now defunct, however I'd like to be proved wrong.

Danbo's right: John Sahagian really has some Freddie Mercury in his voice. Others that came to my mind are SCORPIONS singer and slightly also Bono. Or Geddy Lee in early Rush. Mix all these and you get a close picture. OK, this was my first encounter with this US band - almost with ANY US proggers apart the biggest ones. My expectations were not high and so they were surpassed. First I'd say that connotations to Yes might be misleading. At least Relayer rocks harder and is not as symphonic or complicated. I don't hear much 'retro' in sound or structure; closer comparison, at least momentarily, would be some Hogarth-era Marillion (typical highly melodic neo-prog á la Pendragon or IQ this is not). Well done for an album where keyboard duties are shared by the guitarist and singer.

Usually I'm not so fond of sharp rocking and loud guitars but Relayer rocks the way it just grabs you and makes you float in music. I can't help but agree with Danbo on everything - also lyrics are fine. Probably I could't ever list Relayer in my TOP 30 of prog bands but that's a matter of my long-time taste in rock styles. When I want harder stuff this could be my choice - but don't misinterpret me: this is NOT heavy or hard rock really. The last ethereal track 'We Swim' resembles a lot those moody long 90's Marillion songs, though the length 12:49 is not true. It could be faded out around 9 minutes. After the track has ended, comes totally useless little jamming. But that's only a small minus in over an hours total length. Very recommendable to any listener of louder (American) neo-prog of which I myself am still quite uneducated.

There are some guitar influences from GENESIS here, it begins already in track 1, "Change For Less". While listening, you're waiting for the keyboard to enter, but it's not! Still it's a compact sound throughout the track. 2nd track is more popish, nothing more. Acoustic guitar, good vocal, but rather a dull track on 3rd. Track 4 is more interesting, here they sounds more progressive occasionally ( in the mid section). The drummer certainly does his part here and carries the track to the end. The title track sounds a bit BILLY JOEL in the beginning but the tune has more to offer, but never really takes off. The next one is one of the best, but it is prog? "Take A Look" is very 80's and simple, yet the chorus carries you to the end. Number 8 must be the favourite on this album, the speed is increasing and the guitarist can show off what he is capable to do. "Sarah Lynn", no comments. Last track is to long, will it never stop? Throughout the album the vocal is very clear and gentle but still strong enough. From time to time it remind me of FREDDY MERCURY and BONO.

Third album of this unknown progressive symphonic band from USA. The album was released in 1999 and was, at least for my ears in change over the second one. The sound now is more mainstream, more towards neo-prog but not entirely in this genre, they keep the symphonic elements but in other way. Last man on earth is diffrent from the second one , maybe because they lost a member, an important one by the way, Gregg Pannier, the keyboard player. Now they are only 4 members, and the key passages remain the task of the vocalist and main composer John Sahagiana and guitar player Tim Laroi. Instristing is that the keys here are only as support instrument, no more solos, only in background, but not bad. Finaly another thing to mention is that the album sometimes is to acustic, to umplugged, but as a whole not bad. Again John Sahagian shines on every track specialy on the opening track Change For Less, a hard prog number very good to open the album, Paint Me Red, the smooth and elegant Last Man On Earth (my fav track from here, excellent the vocal parts) and Take A Look, the rest are ok. So all in all a another great album by this american band, without key solos or stunning instrumental interplays, Relayer did it again, in a diffrent way , but again good. 4 stars, still a wonderful album full of great pieces and smooth arrangements.