THE RED PLANET

This album has to be rated in two different scales, first there is the Rick Wakeman scale, on how this album stands among his other 3000 albums. Then there is the general progressive rock scale, how this album stands against all other progressive rock being produced. Let's start with the Rick Wakeman scale: Let's be honest here, this is among the best albums the big guy has ever done. If you like his best albums from the 70s like Six wives, The myths and legends, No earthly connection and Criminal record, this album is for you. This would have been a worthy successor to No earthly connection, let's imagine we could squeeze this album into 1977 and it would have been a perfect fit. I really didn't think he had it in him if I would be frank. A 5-star album in the Rick Wakeman scale!

On the general progressive rock scale this album should be considered as one of the better albums of 2020, it really holds up well against the competition.

What I love is the sound, it's a timeless sound, it's got that classic 70s sound with analog keyboards and drums that actually sounds like drums, but it's all made and recorded in 2020 with a fresh and punchy sound.

I'ts also an instrumental album, and thanks to that! I cannot really say that I found the singers that Wakeman has hired before had been the best, mostly rather weak. An instrumental album is be the best choice for Wakeman. Also, an instrumental album, the songs and their structure needs to hold the right quality to be able to deliver on the whole album, it's hard to write an album without a singer and still keep the listener satisfied. It's like they say: if it got vocals, get a better guitarist! Or keyboard player in this case. Well, no problem with that on this album since Wakeman really delivers on those keys. A very enjoyable album in the general progressive rock scale. A masterpice on the Rick Wakeman scale.