ORPHAN PROJECT

Their second album released in 2009 with a strange and intresting name in same time Spooning out the sea is another worthy album for me. Definetly in same league with their first, no big imprevements here, the sound and all are the same, that means a good thing for me and an enjoyble trip for sure from start to finish. Well, musicaly speaking is more then ok, no really groundbreaking moments that's for sure but this effectiv combination between Dream Thater in their most friendly sound and attitude with pompous art rock a la Asia and Journey and with more complex passages remind me of Yes, Kansas or Spock's Beard works here very well. Heavy riffs combined with melodic lines makes from this second Orphan Project album a winner. Very good are the vocal arrangements, Shane Lankford isa very good vocalist and because of that he is also appear on lates two albums of Visual Cliff. As I said they are similar with ACT or Profusion. Good towards great in places. 3 rounded to 3.5 because I think this is their best album. Forte pieces One Dark Moment(Providence) and the title track with a great ending instrumental passages, the rest are ok too.

Orphan Project is an american band formed around 2001 by Shane Lankford. First album released in 2004 named Orphan found is Shane Lankford first atemp to write and compose music with autobiographic content because he was an orphan himself trying to search his identity and his origins and this album is a personal one for him. The music offered and hudge influence for the band as the linear notes said is Dream Theater meeting Yes, Asia, Kansas and Journey, the result is pretty much ok. To me Orphan Project sounds like ACT from Sweden, that combination of metal arrangements but not being at all a prog metal band with pompous guitar parts a la Journey and Asia and with complexity of Kansas glory days and Yes. Very nice are the vocal parts of Shane Lankford . The instrumental passages are more then ok leaving impression that in some parts because of the violin add sounds like Knasas, but in the end they had their own sound right from the beggining. So, all in all good, al pieces stands as ok, no bad moments here.

Orphan Project is a very pleasant surprise for the Christian who also loves progressive rock. Their second full-length album continues the excellence of their debut outing ? heavy prog rock with great hooks and accessible choruses.

This reminds me of early Spock's Beard and Kansas.

One review labels them "Peter Gabriel going heavy."

Many of the songs are disguised worship songs, in that they don't seem like that at first listen (after all, they are hard progressive rock songs). Only when you listen intently to the lyrics do you realize what's really going on.

For instance, from Angels Desire:

"You bring me shelter / You refine / All that I am / Unchain and free / This burdened soul / I'll fly where angels desire"

The remaining three tracks are included on Orphan Project's 2009 album "Spooning out the Sea". My advice is to skip this EP and simply search online to find a download of the single Floyd song for 99 cents.

As an EP to "tide over" Orphan Project fans in 2008, this was very good. Like an appetizer or a salty snack, it left me unsatisfied, wanting more (much more)! This is not an entirely bad thing, however, considering the alternative. At least I wasn't wondering when it would ever end, wanting less (much less)!

The piano and drums stand out in the intro of "Reach". It kicks in before 1 1/2 minutes and the vocals follow. I like the guitar here. Piano ends it. "Angels Desire" is heavier as the vocals come in quickly. The vocals are deep and the guitar is prominant especially after 3 minutes. "Fallen" is catchy with the guitar out front until it settles with piano. Reserved vocals join in. It gets fuller as contrasts continue. "One Dark Moment (Providence)" is heavy with some organ this time. Very catchy too.

"My Goodness" opens with piano as reserved vocals join in. It's fuller before 2 minutes. Strings to end it. I like the lyrics on this one. "Head On Your Platter" kicks in heavily quickly. Lots of bottom end. I like the mood here. Strings before 4 minutes then it's heavy to end it. "Empty Me" features prominant piano,guitar and vocals. It settles before 3 1/2 minutes briefly then kicks back in. "The Battle Rages On" is heavy and uptempo. We get a childrens choir singing "Onward Christian Soldiers" at one point. Lots of piano when it kicks back in. "Spooning Out The Sea" is really the only laid back tune although it does get fuller. Nice guitar after 3 minutes.

Also missing for me on this one is that emotional element that I felt on the debut. Good album though.

"Coming Into View I : Discovering New Surroundings" is a top three tune that opens with sounds that build into a melody. Nice guitar when it comes in and turns heavy. Vocals before 1 1/2 minutes as it settles. It kicks back in as contrasts continue. Aggressive guitar before 5 minutes then it settles with piano then kicks back in with vocals. More great guitar to end it. "Chosen" pictures Shane at the orphanage seeing his friends being chosen and hoping that one day his turn will come. It opens with the sound of a music box and door being opened before acoustic and electric guitars and drums come in. Vocals follow. Some violin and organ in this one as well. It ends as it began with the music box. "Full But Lonely" kicks in quickly and hard. Vocals before a minute. A good heavy tune. "Leaving My Seat At The Table" is another top three for me. Piano and strings to start before drums and guitar join in. A nice heavy sound before a minute as he cries out "Mother !... Father !...". Violins after 4 1/2 minutes. "Trickle Down" opens with synths. Vocals a minute in. It kicks in as contrasts continue between the mellow and powerful. "Coming Into View II : Encircling Arms Of The Father" features some outstanding guitar and synths early. Vocals after a minute. Great sound on the chorus. The guitar lights it up before 4 minutes.

"See What He Sees" is the other top three tune. Piano to open as strings join in then reserved vocals. All I can say is "gulp". So beautiful and moving. These lyrics are inspired. "Orphan Found" is heavy duty then the vocals come in as it settles. Great sound when it kicks back in. Contrasts continue. Strings in this one too. Ripping guitar 4 minutes in. "Parts As One" has this bright and happy intro. Vocals and a fuller sound follow. This is incredible ! "Paupers Unfulfilled" continues with the piano,strings and vocals and contrasts. Great tune. "Coming Into View III : Gazing Down On Golden Streets" opens with the sound of synths and waves both washing in. Reserved vocals before a minute. Check out the lyrics here. This has to be a top three track too. Words about seeing God for the first time, hearing him for the first time, touching him for the first time. I like to dream about that too. "Outro : Wondrous Love" ends as it should with no words, just vocal melodies from a choir and piano. No words as it ends with the sound of those waves washing in.

For those intimidated by the thought of music with Christian lyrical contents, in this case they aren't too bad. You will encounter a few instances of God and Jesus in here, but you won't find any instances of "Repent you sinners" or messages of a similar nature. These guys take pride in their faith though, but in a more subtle manner than most artists flying the religious flag.

Musically we're treated to an album residing somewhere in between progressive hard rock and progressive metal. Heavy guitar riffs dominate manners, but often played in a too slow fashion and somewhat too subdued to truly be called metal, yet slightly heavier and more intense than what's usually described as hard rock.

Synths, piano and organ adds details, and a few nukbrs with an electronic-sounding guitar further variety. Strong and distinct moods throughout, and generally good songs. Personally I find My Goodness to be the best of the bunch, a brilliant number on an otherwise solid release. And a venture well worth seeking out by hard rock and metal fans alike, as long as sophisticated music of a progressive variety is of interest and the lyrical contents isn't regarded as problematic.

If you exclude the vocals, a song as "Coming Into View" is rather Crimsonesque (what an influent band !). Dark, complex, superb guitar riffs definitely influenced by Fripp. Very heavy. All mighty. An extremely violent song. But most of the album will be very powerful. Closer to prog-metal than anything else. Of course, some violins will add a special Kansas mood here and there, but really for short breaks only. Actually, "See What He Does" will even adopt the acoustic mood of Kansas. A bit mellow but an exceptional violin duo will give it another dimension.

Arena is not very far away when you listen to the power of the title track. At this time of the record, one has to agree that their vocalist / leader has a beautiful voice : melodic, catchy, profound and emotional (the theme of this album must definitely encourage him to be so poignant). "Ophan Found" is another great track (but so far, nothing weak can be found).

Another quiet moment follows. "Parts as One" will bring some welcome tranquility and melancholy again. It would have been hard to go on with such a tempo. For the first itme, two slow songs will appear side by side. Of course, during the chorus for "Paupers Unfulfilled" the volume will raise quite substantially but the general sensation is a good rock ballad.

The third piece suite "Coming Into View" is spread over the entire album. Total lenght : over eighteen minutes. Wild and almost neo-prog flavours during the first movement; it is a great opening number. It sets the pace for most of the album. This is not a quiet album for sure. The second movement "Encircling Arms Of The Father" has some "Watcher Of The Skies" feeling during the intro. But how many times have it already been the case ? It is probably the poppiest and catchiest song of the whole. Very nice melody. It is not the best song according my taste, but very pleasant. It breaks a bit the overall style and it features some great guitar work as well.

Third movement, "Gazing Down The Golden Street" is the slowest part. At times, you'll get the impression to listen to Mark II Marillion. It is the weakest song of the album (would you believe ?).

The very short closing number features some great choir and this is a wonderful goodbye.

This is a very good album that would deserve more recognition and exposure. Almost no reviews on this site. I really invite you to give it a try and to share your comments about this work. Please, do me this favour.

Four stars.