WHITE CLOUDS

No release results - showing artist results instead

Sort: Recent best-seller | Results cached

Visit Amazon tag:'Progressive Rock' for more prog rock

It took me a long time to get used to this album, really. I had it for a long time but at first it didn´t strike me as anything really special. It was maybe too modern pop, like a more progressive version of a Radiohead or a Coldplay (but with better vocals and a real guitar player). However, after repeated listenings I was drawn to their fine musicanship, excellent songwriting skills and the subtle arrangements. The concept is quite interesting and original too. This project by the brothers Davies duo (plus drummer Russel Wilson) takes some time to get into, but it is worth it.

After some time I found myself enjoying more and more White Clouds. It´s a fine tapestry of sounds and so well done you might not get the excellent keyboards and guitar interplay, the shifting moods and the briliant (but discreet) perfomances if you´re paying due atention. But once you do, you´ll be reward with a quite melodic and interesting trip to the past, telling the story of an english guy facing the horrors of world war one. I really don´t think it sounds like anything Marillion or even Neil Morse have done as far as I´m concerned (a little Pink Floyd here and there is ok, but not much either). Neo prog? I don´t know...And yet their work is quite good and, being their first, has quite a personal sound.

I don´t know if I can call this album a real masterpiece, or even essential, for the average proghead. It is however a strong debut and I really hope those guys have plans for another shot at least. They surely made a very melodic, convincing and bold debut and it makes you wonder how far this talented duo can go. If you´re into melodic prog with fine, subtle instrumentation and good songwriting, go for it! Final rating: something between 3,5 and 4 stars.

Named after the association of philosophers during the early 20's at the University of Vienna, this duo consists of brothers Paul and Jack Davis, coming from the town of Pewsey in UK.Both grew up performing at a lunch club in The Shak, the Pewsey youth centre, where any youngster could pick up an instrument and reveal his talents.After playing in separate bands, the Davis' brothers united in 2006 to record an album of their own under the Vienna Circle name.Helped by Russell Wilson on drums and production they finally launched their debut ''White clouds'' in 2008 as an indepedent release.

This is certainly one of the most accurate, promising and interesting releases of Progressive Rock in 2008 with the Davis brothers creating an album full of emotional colors, vintage references, superb arrangements and thrilling vocals lines.Moreover the album becomes even more interesting with each listening.Vienna Circle sound like a cross between MARILLION, PINK FLOYD, SKY ARCHITECT, MOTHER BLACK CAP, PORCUPINE TREE and several Polish bands like SATELLITE or BELIEVE.Excellent modern Progressive Rock with beats from Neo Prog and Heavy Rock fields, based on impressive guitar leads, soaring synthesizers and mellotron samples, while the background contains also some nice vocal distortions and plenty of acoustic breaks.All tracks are awesome with a deep emotional content yet with a fair dose of demanding musicianship.Changing moods, tremendous electric solos, powerful and grandiose orchestral textures and cool hypnotic ambiances offer series of original structures with a result that ranges from satisfying to simply masterful.And there is also an incredible ability by the Davis' family to combine an otherwise very modern-sounding work with the sounds of the past on the orchestral moves.

Excellent debut to say the least.Moving, adventurous, pompous and perfectly arranged Progressive Rock, that becomes even more valuable considering the fact that it was created by only two very young artists.Highly recommended.