PRECIOUS SECONDS

I have to agree with Progrules when he talks about this album. My goodness! It´s beautiful! But it took me some time to really enjoy it in its full potential, but when it did, I was hooked. I heard it nonstop all this weekend and I still want more. The music may sound a bit too simple and popish on the surface sometimes, but then you discover many suble details that reveal the truly great progressive work Precious Seconds is inside. With obvious influences of other great bands like Pink Floyd, Camel, Pendragon and the like, they did produce a fantastic sound of their own.

Rob Davenport´s guitar playing is great, reminding me of Andre Latimer sometimes, although they way he plays the acoustic parts is very different. Keyboards could be a little more upfront, but are very good anyway. Bassist Graham Lane does also a fine job (his fretless licks in the beginning of the Last Great Climb is great). Vocalist Chris Campbell has a fine voice and I liked his emotional, sincere delivering.

All the five, long tracks are good. Highlights for me are the opener Livin A Lie (great instrumental 6 minute intro, much in the vein of Camel´s The SnowGoose before the vocals come kickin´ in), the ballad From Afar and the 20 minute epic The Last Great Climb (with its shifting moods and atmospheres).

I´m looking forward to hear their future works. Very promising. I recommend this album to anyone who likes symphonic neo prog in the vein of Camel and Pendragon. Four solid stars.