GRAPPLING

Wow, what can I say? The new album from The Tea Club is just simply incredible. It is a sophisticated fusion of 70s retro with the most cutting edge elements of today's progressive and/or alternate rock.

The Magnet ? This is an incredible opener for the album, and from what I recall, an epic moment in the recent concerts. It starts with a distinct Jethro Tull vibe, but continues into a highly complex march forward into a unique and complex movement of beats and rhythms that rival the best of the classics. The song builds with energy until the end where the vocals of Dan McGowan elevate into an incredible crescendo of vocal excellence that can't be adequately described without listening to the piece.

Remember Where You Were ? This is a perfect follow-on, providing a more relaxed but consistent rolling composition that is reminiscent of ELP with epic keyboard sections and bombastic vocals and harmonies; they carry the listener into another plane.

Doctor Abraham ? From here, we transition into a raw and heavier Tea Club that we have not seen in the past. This track takes the band to a new level of intensity. While moving into this new heavy plane, they do not lose their progressive roots. In fact, if anything, the complexity of the composition is pushed up another notch. As the song progresses, the movement slows down and become reflective of the album as a whole. The melodies at the end pull the track full circle as the intensity reaches a critical mass ("LAMINATION").

The Fox in a Hole ? The Fox in a Hole is very reminiscent of the shorter progressive songs of the 70s. It contains a mix of extreme instrumentals mixed with fine vocal melodies accented with harmonies. From the beginning, this is a classic progressive rock song rivaling the likes of Roundabout. As the song progresses, there is a definite hint of Yes, Genesis and Gentile Giant all rolled up in one. This is an instant classic that will live on for decades.

Wasp in a Wig ? This might be the best song on the record. There is definitely an echo of The Tea Club's past works mixed with the cutting edge sound of this new record. It is a complex song that increases in intensity as it goes. It is more of a complex composition than a song, with its classical piano backdrop. Yes fans could compare this track to Close to the Edge with its myriad of movements that are not always congruent but complimentary.

The White Book ? Well just when I thought Wasp and a Wig was the Close to the Edge moment, maybe I was wrong. The White Book starts with a very progressive rock sound and feel. But as it progresses forward, it the vocal starts to tell an involved story of the fantastic and cosmic. The song again has multiple movements that feel to be of a classic prog rock signature. Then the track increases again towards a harder rock movement before collapsing into an integrate guitar and keyboard melody that is almost indescribably but absolutely perfect.

All in all this is a must-have masterpiece for a Progressive Rock collector. While it has not yet gained the notoriety it deserves, I am certain that over time this record will become a progressive rock classic.