FIRST LIGHT

FARPOINT were found in 1997 in Sumter,South California, when guitarist/keyboardist Kevin Jarvis and drummer Rick Walker joined their forces,soon to be supported by female singer Dana Oxendine.The band even paricipated at the 98' Yescamp,covering several YES songs with Don Fink on bass,Michelle Wakler on keyboards and Carl Boone on male vocals,later to become a stable member of FARPOINT.In 2000 they release a limited edition single with two songs,this time with Frank Tyson on basses.Both Rick and Michelle Walker would also quit,with two members jumping on board: Jonathan Rodriguez on drums and Mike Avins on guitars.With this line-up FARPOINT release ''First light'' in 2002 as a private press.

In ''First light'' the love of FARPOINT both for Folk music and Progressive/Art Rock are more than evident.Do not expect something overly complicated,although the album contains several YES- like chord progressions.The overall atmosphere is quite soft and dreamy, with the typical rock instrumentation exchanging with a heavy amount of acoustic and 12-string guitars from song to song.The rockier songs have some good instrumental parts with bluesy guitars and the rhythm section on the front,while keyboards and a few piano parts are mostly used as background instrument.Add to these elements the intense typical American voice of Boone,resulting some decent art rock musicianship with a rural edge.Several tracks though contain acoustic passages in a ballad style, accompanied by soft keys and hailed by the magnificent and sensitive voice of Dana Oxendine,who raises my emotions to another level.The 14-min. ''To the river'' is an absolute amalgam of the afore-mentioned influences:US Art Rock/Folk with tons of acoustic guitars,more dominant keys,a tight rhythm section,ethereal backing vocals by Oxendine and expressive singing by Boone.

FARPOINT won't blow you away with their God-sent talent or complicated breaks...but they play some damn good Art Rock from their heart,deeped in sensitivity and originality.A nice purchase,mostly for fans of Acoustic Prog or the US sound.