OUT THERE (DVD)

While watching this DVD my memories went back to the early Nineties. It was after one of those legendary Dutch SI Music double concerts, including the new and promising UK neo-prog band Landmarq. I met their shy but friendly singer Damian Wilson at the end of the bar and we had a nice chat. I congratulated him with Landmarq their enthousiastic performance and told him that the crowd was stunned by Damian his powerful and very distinctive voice. He was very pleased with the compliments and told me about his ambitions.

Well, he has done very well because on this DVD he has an important role as a member of 'The Caped Crusader' his band! On the back cover of Out There we can read about Wakeman that this DVD is his first progressive rock album with his own band for 26 years. So I was very curious to the sound of this 'reborn' Rick Wakeman and I have to say that I am positive although at some moments the music sound a bit similar and in general also a bit polished. But we can enjoy Wakeman his awesome vintage keyboard sound like the Mellotron in The Mission, the Hammond in Universe Of Sound, the Memorymoog in Music Of Love and a majestic church organ sound in the bombastic final track The Cathedral Of The Sky. The guitar sound is harder-egded with some propulsive heavy riffs and lots of fiery and biting solos. Damian Wilson delivers strong and powerful vocals (he reminds me of the post-Seventies Jon Anderson) and the rhythm-section sounds dynamic and adventuorus. The visual element is mainly based upon aerospace images from the vaults of the NASA (it looks like the world of Carl Sagan, blended with some Terry Gilliam ideas) and studio shots of the band members. The special feature contains 'the story behind the making of the album and the subsequent live tour, this includes explanations by Rick Wakeman (with his typical humor and cynical views) and spectacular live footage from the band on stage.

An entertaining Rick Wakeman experience, my rating: 3,5 stars.