COCOON

Very creative, whimsical, and engaging storytelling--with amazing voice talents and great diversity of musical styles. Not only can Peter act (and tell a story), he can play! Lots of instruments! Well!

1. "Overture" (4:32) bombastic prog instrumental (8.25/10)

2. "Spring" (0:34)

3. "The Isle Of Witches" (11:03) nice storyteller's intro followed by mood-setting keys (Mad Nemo organ) until the sixth minute when a heavy low-end plodding theme opens and then is supported by some very dark-pirate-like voices (some treated by vocoder, etc.). Then the witches have a turn to speak and have their own theme. It turns out that conflict and resolution are mysteriously comeby as nothing in the dialogue, singing, or music would lead me to believe that such had happen--as wonderful as the music and voice acting are. Odd song to try to rate. (17.5/20)

4. "Summer" (0:29) Indian sarod. He's good!

5. "Tigers In The Butter" (14:54) I definitely hear the roar of tigers in the jungle-pastoral opening. Some very Banksian and later GENESIS sounds in the instrumental build. Vocals begin with multi-voiced chorus. This is very UNITOPIA-like. Lead vocal is very reminiscent of 80s confident PHIL COLLINS--almost Tarzan-like. Nice Andean flute solo followed by fuzz guitar solo followed by chorus and UNITOPIA finale with awesome lead guitar solo. (27.5/30)

6. "The First Lament" (7:40) distant flute playing over low hum and occasional zither notes. Wooden flute moves forward and begins its plaintive solo. Quite a mood being set here! (Kind of like The Last Samurai--before the fight in the fog.) Piano hit indicates a new section. Electrified acoustic guitar plays its own sad melody before the sonicscape fills out and lead electric guitar takes over. Very New Age jazzy before the drums and low end really amp up with the now-wailing guitar. Nice instrumental. Accomplishes exactly what the title says it will. No wonder Colin Tench took a shine to this guy! (13.5/15)

7. "Autumn" (0:30) fireworks, park band, and footsteps in the dry leaves.

8. "The Merry Vicar" (6:40) organ in a kind of "Baba O'Riley" opening, turns heavy, before turning vaudevillian in a theatric Peter Gabriel way. Very entertaining. Very British. After the singing/theatrics ends, piano turns classical, but then we get a very GENESIS passage with Banksian synth solo, but then it turns heavy & eerie again for a stint before revolving back into the vicar story. What an actor! And composer, to boot! (9/10)

9. "A Visit To Chigwick" (8:50) down-home folk guitar with kitchen percussives opens this before a beautiful RICHIE HAVENS-like voice joins in. Wow! This is amazing! I'd swear I was listening to Richie singing and playing his own tune! The music switches into a bouncy GENESIS-like passage with accordion and acoustic guitar soloing over the top! Wow! Muted narration lets us know that we're observing soldiers on parade. Amazing! The best early Genesis mock up I've ever heard! With even more flare and sophistication of Nursery Cryme-era Genesis! I never thought I'd say this: I've finally heard someone take the creative, theatric genius of PG-era Genesis and take it further! (20/20)

10. "Winter" (0:45) Christmas music with children's outdoor voices and footsteps in the snow.

11. "Don't Let Go, Feels Alright" (13:32) a little "Mad, Man Moon" feel turns heavier, sad, as piano, voice, and then saxophone over "orchestra" belt out their emotions. When lead guitar takes over it sounds as if it's letting up, over, but the, surprise! There's six more minutes left! Back to a little RICHIE HAVENS-like music for the next lyrical section. Peter is definitely pulling on some heartstrings here! This is rather amazing! Another calming coda leads to a zither passage over which Richie/Phil sings but then quits, leaving the zither, piano and electric piano do the work until background choir voices sing a chorus. I am truly stunned. Drained and weepy. Nice job, Mr. Jones!I am hard-pressed to think of a better, more complete, more effective song in recent history. (30/30)

A/five stars; a truly remarkable musical listening experience--one that I HIGHLY recommend for any and ALL PROG LOVERS!