VOYAGE

Interesting debut CD for what I understand is an unusual low budget project. Well-crafted songs with equally good lyrics written by Dave Peters and Ken Walker. Guitar master Scott McGill makes a guest appearance on two songs, and the artwork by Ed Unitsky is worth the CD by itself. Walker is an excellent keyboardist and shows off a nice harmonic sense in his playing with well thought out lines. Peters is not listed as a musician, so I assume he just contributes writing. Vocally its uneven, but better than half the CD's I've heard. Voyage to Castilia have some amazing good guitar work. The Puzzle should satisfy those looking for off beat time signatures and rhythms. There's even a touch of ambient, movie soundtrack sounding cuts. Childhood Friend is beautifully crafted with keyboard work that is simply tasteful. While this CD will not take over the prog world, there's not a bad song on the disc, and there is something for almost everyone who likes prog here.

Was told of this album by a friend who heard it on a Polish station so I gave a listen. Interesting music full of rich hamonics (is that the right word), counterpoint, and deep lyrical meaning not found in most prog music. I never heard of the keyboard player before (Ken Walker) but he is excellent. Some tracks are pure prog, other lean to artsy rock, and these is even little ambient pieces to keep things different. Here are some comments on different tracks. Voyage to Castilia has guitar solos that are as good as almost any out there today. I was told Scott McGill was a guest soloist, and he is a great player that hardly anyone knows about outside of his style of music. The keyboard textures set a dreamy mood and pulls you in from the first notes. Childhood Friend is another track that has interesting keyboard lines in the beginning that force you to listen as the songs build to its vocal section. It is beautifully crafted with a wild explosion of chouds near the end before calm sets in and lays the ending. Songs like Child of Dreams and Life Dream have lyrics that make a person just think about their being and future. Vanishing Masses is a very interesting musical piece and the song that follows, Incredible Melting Man, gives the rockers something to like.

Bass playing is not spectacular but solid, drumming the same. The bass player is Chris Parson, and I wonder if he is related to Alan Parsons. The stars here are the guitar soloists and the excellent keyboard work--is there a prog bad without good keyboards? But maybe the songs are the stars too. They are all good. It's a good listen and in my rotation now.