Progarchives, the progressive rock ultimate discography
Ian Neal - Out of the Woods CD (album) cover

OUT OF THE WOODS

Ian Neal

Symphonic Prog


From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

Bookmark and Share
4 stars Neal is a very skilled arranger. This album serves up a string of blissful layer cakes of synth and acoustic guitar timbres. It's a sonic paradise that often evokes pastoral Genesis. He keeps things mellow but uplifting most of the time. The opener "Storm" is in slow triple time with a narrated poem and wordless soprano. It has gorgeous harmonic development at the end. Reverberating piano chords open "September" and piano and strings are featured along with evocative 12-string guitar ostinatos. In "The Way through the Woods" an eerie piano figure develops into a moderato, martial 4/4 groove with staccato arco strings. "Boaters" has a very pretty subdued opening. The bass pedals under melancholy 6/8 sound great. The longest track on the album, "The Lake," develops into more rocking territory with synth lead floursihes. After a long pastoral stretch and some effective mellotron choir swells, it ends big with bass pedals. "On the Idle Hill of Summer" is pensive music with text about going into battle and features convincing solo cello. In the soldier, a ladies' choir accompanies a narrated poem about a dying soldier. The album ends with "Winter Falls," big textured music with soaring melodies.
Report this review (#2301737)
Posted Saturday, December 28, 2019 | Review Permalink

IAN NEAL Out of the Woods ratings only


chronological order | showing rating only

Post a review of IAN NEAL Out of the Woods


You must be a forum member to post a review, please register here if you are not.

MEMBERS LOGIN ZONE

As a registered member (register here if not), you can post rating/reviews (& edit later), comments reviews and submit new albums.

You are not logged, please complete authentication before continuing (use forum credentials).

Forum user
Forum password

Copyright Prog Archives, All rights reserved. | Legal Notice | Privacy Policy | Advertise | RSS + syndications

Other sites in the MAC network: JazzMusicArchives.com — jazz music reviews and archives | MetalMusicArchives.com — metal music reviews and archives

Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.