THE HEALING ROAD

The Healing Road is listed as a Neo-Prog band. In that case, Hess & Co has made a career change on this album. Backdrop is divided into Backdrop # 1 and Backdrop # 2.

# 1 is a nice melody with a lot of references to Camel, Clearlight and Mike Oldfield. The twenty-four minutes ebbs and flows very nicely. There are some Keltic music influences here too. This part of the album is most definate pretty new-age sounding in addition to the heavy symph prog leanings. A very good piece of music, this is.

# 2 has a lot more Keltic influences and is more dynamic than # 1. There is also a lot of Jethro Tull influences at the end of these twenty-two minutes. # 2 is in general more leaning towards prog folk than new-age. Again, this is a very good piece of music.

My only regrets with Backdrop is the lack of any really great or even superb melody lines. But Backdrop is still a very good melting pot (stew) of prog folk, symphonic prog and new age. One of the best stews I have ever consumed. It is recommended to those who loves this type of music. I have to exlude myself from that group. But it is obvious that Hanspeter Hess & Co is onto something good with The Healing Road.

3.5 stars

3(+), I suppose will be appropriate to describe my feelings + prog value I see in this record + how interesting this music is. Not bad, not good, average.

There's just two tracks offered here - both of them epic creations clocking in at somewhere around 20 minutes, both of them mostly instrumental ventures.

The first of them blends neo-progressive rock with new age-tinged atmospheres; and is an ever evolving composition gradually building up a mood and atmosphere from a humble start to a majestic, detailed finish and then moved on to the next theme.

The second track continues pretty much in the same manner; but adds in some exotic sounding themes in the first half; at times reminding of Ozric Tentacles; before heading back to the modern symphonic tinged explorations blended with new age elements.

A strong album, well worth checking out by fans of modern symphonic prog of the instrumental variety.

The compositions are mostly keyboard driven, with the piano as a central melodic element in carefully crafted multilayered arrangements; where organ, floating synths and multiple keyboard layers all contribute to a greater or lesser extent to flesh out a detailed, nuanced sound rich in textures and with a good amount of tension. Contrasting elements are utilized in a skilled manner; focusing on minor details rather than the big contradicting sounds. Drawn out guitar chords and acoustic guitar licks add even more details and nuances to the performances, and the drums are used in at times rather creative and innovative fashion to serve some rather unique sonic explorations.

In style we're talking a variety of Neo progressive rock, with added elements from vintage progressive rock as well as new age; lush and mellow but often majestic and rich in atmosphere at the same time; and rather energetic on a few occasions. Well worth checking out by fans of instrumental music with symphonic progressive rock as the main musical foundation.