THE ABSOLUTE UNIVERSE - FOREVERMORE (EXTENDED VERSION)

This album should be in my opinion one of highlights in 2021 progressive music scene. With a long seamless listening experience consisting of 9 shorter pieces of each of two CD (last respectively 47 and 43 minutes), this concept album is an epic progressive record.

One of great features of Neal Morse and Roine Stolt being in the same band is that both of them are really good in writing well-structured track, most of the time with grand theme and creative elaboration of that theme throughout the album. The opening track 'Overture' is the example of this. The theme is well composed and nicely performed by Roine's soaring guitar, with complex time signature, several key changes and great rhythm (bass and drum) arrangement. This theme will be played throughout the album with many wonderful approaches.

The fourth track 'The Darkness in the Light' has a nice jazz-flamenco feel particularly in the middle of the song. Pete Trewavas' bassline is really good in this track. The seventh track 'Rainbow Sky' is a nice track, with Genesis and Beatles influences creating a unique style. There is a good moment where the theme is played with such style.

The ninth track 'The World We Used to Know' has a heavy instrumental intro. I think there is an intentional homage to Yes's 'Ritual' (from 'Tales from Topographic Oceans') before the vocal section starts. This track ends the first part (first CD).

The second part is opened by an uplifting track 'The Sun Comes Up Today'. Roine's guitar work in this track is amazing. Twelfth track 'Owl Howl' is a rather dark track, with part of has a flavor of modernized Pink Floyd. Again the main theme is performed with different style that really fit in this track. Mike Portnoy's drumming in this track and the next track 'Belong' are outstanding. 'Belong' is mostly instrumental track, with a great guitar works with amazing bass and drum companions.

The last 3 tracks are kind of crescendo that bring us to a beautiful end. 'Greatest Story Never Ends' has a vocal harmony that reminds me to Gentle Giant's and Yes' style. The main theme is played gloriously with orchestral background, before smoother ending with 'Love Made a Way'.

These four progressive rock masters of present day have brought so many creativity and great musicianship in this album. A great enjoyable 90-minutes journey with a lot of musical intelligent to appreciate. References to other prog- rock giants like Yes or Pink Floyd and additional orchestration are other nice elements of this album. A different (and shorter) version of 'The Absolute Universe' is also released ? and despite the fact that each version has its own great feature, I like this extended version better, for it has a lot more of Roine's guitar work and more listening enjoyment. A five-star album, that for me set another standard for present day progressive rock.