GRACE

On FARPOINT's sophomore effort we find a toning down of the folk and Celtic elements in favor of a slicker and slightly harder edged style. As a result, "Grace" may be of greater interest to the average neo progressive fan. Whether one considers this a step up or step down for the South Carolina band will depend on one's preferred company among the sub genres.

I don't wish to suggest that the alteration is radical by any means, but we do find more dominant and somewhat distorted lead guitars than previously. Farpoint still opts for Christian slanted spiritual themes and tends to melodic and lengthy compositions with fairly conventional and pleasant arrangements. The twin vocals of Dana Oxendine and Clark Boone trade off each other, often in the same passage, which remains a positive force in the lineup.

Not surprisingly, it is in the material that is more overtly Christian that Farpoint shows the most conviction and verve, particularly in the divine title cut with its devotional lightly chanted vocals. Even here, the message scores points across the spiritual spectrum because no preaching is involved, just reflections on one man's epiphany.

Other favorites are the more acoustic "Dawn" with Oxendine's chirpy flutes and dulcet vox, and "Ghost", which sounds like a more focused and toned down KARNATAKA and IONA. "H2Origins" and "Yesterday" are both played at a similar tempo and could have been pared down or even merged. But it is later in the disk that the quality factor flags, as "Nevermore" and "Falling Down" just sound like conventional AOR and soft rock respectively. An argument for keeping within a 60 minute guideline for CDs, especially in a prolific band that is (or was) releasing almost annually.

While I can taste the sincerity and humility in the strains of FARPOINT, I can't give more than a guarded recommendation for this disk. It's nice for sure, but somewhat more conventional and less eye opening than one might expect from a state of grace.

After making the first steps into discography, Farpoint would enter a short but very productive period, releasing one album per year.Their second work ''Grace'' was released in 2003 again on Starcross Music and showed the addition of Mike Avins on lead and rhythm guitars.Former bandmate Rick Walker provided narrations in two tracks and Buddy Harre contributed vocals in another.The track ''H2Origins'' was also included in the Progression Magazine compilation ''Paths less travelled''.

The band avoided forced attempts on writing long, progressive epics, but they did not move an inch from their love for mellow, spiritual Progressive Rock.Now, there is a great balance in this album, which would not break any grounds, but contains sincere and harmonic music with some strong arrangements.The more full-blown proggy tracks even flirt with the old, symphonic sound of the past and the touch of groups like YES, RENAISSANCE and PENTWATER is pretty obvious, albeit with an evident American taste and a tendency towards more melodic and less complex orchestrations.Still there are plenty of great moments in them, led by the dominant piano and synthesizers, the vintage sound of organ and the occasional fiery guitar explosions, featuring a nice female vocalist and offering even some quirky instrumental tricks.During their softer moments they dive into a world of rural soundscapes with smooth acoustic plays and the omnipresent support of background keyboards, delivering a more Prog Folk-oriented style, which retains an artistic face and is interrupted often by some good electric moves.The biggest force of the band appear to be the old-fashioned runs on keyboards, the lovely guitar solos and the tight compatibility between acoustic textures and proggy workouts.

Music, that comes from the heart, performed with honesty and dignity.Split between light Symphonic and Folk Rock, ''Grace'' is a pretty enjoyable release with lots of well-arranged parts.Recommended.