SOUL TRAVELS

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At this early point of Chris Fournier's career his life as a student and as a musician seem to walk on parallel ways.That's because during the second year of his stint at the University of Maine he decided to record a second effort under the moniker of Fonya.At the end of the day, he had the warm support from the Kinesis offices and the result was his second CD ''Soul travels'', released in 1993.

''Soul travels'' continues from where Fournier's first album stopped, his music explores the sound of keyboards and electronics with strong doses of guitars, but this time it sounds a bit more Prog-oriented in classic terms, even if it remains very spacious and synth-based.Several tracks on the album have a discreet Neo Prog feel and heavy orientations towards the vintage stylings of YES or E.L.P., containing some complex twists with occasional, tricky bass exercises and lots of symphonic references on synthesizer and organ.This does not mean that ''Soul travels'' comes pretty close to the standard prog principles, because the music still relies too much on synthetic echoes and electronic tunes, as established by groups such as OZRIC TENTACLES or CLEARLIGHT way back to the 70's.Moreover, this album sounds much less haunting than the debut, it contains even some happy tunes and the dreamy soundscapes are numerous.Fournier's work on instrumental execution, production and mixing is impressive.Even if the drum programming reveals the album's one-man background, the arrangements are extremely tight soundwise.The breaks into guitar world add the album some well-needed depth and the tracks become more balanced and, thus, more rewarding.Dreamy melodies and keyboard workouts are all over the place for a trippier approach into the Prog Rock planet.

Nice discovery, very 90's-sounding, but offering a great number of charming tunes and spacey landscapes, not to mention the fair dose of Classic Prog orientations.This period product comes warmly recommended.