STILL A NATURAL CONDITION

I guess we don't need to worry about "prog" being at risk of extinction from the face of the Earth. Cobalt Blue are a brand new endeavor - so new that there isn't even a Wikipedia article about them .. not even in Portuguese. Yet their new, first and so far the only release is quite an impressive musical achievement.

I will probably be coming back to this review and revising it, once I have had a chance to listen to Cobalt Blue a few more times, but here is where I stand right now:

The first, second and third listen to the Still a Natural Condition yielded a distinctively positive impression. Whereas the album isn't built upon innovative ideas or a unique sound, the quality of their musicianship is more than adequate, which makes me hope that these folks can go far in the world of "prog". That is, provided they develop gusto for breaking some moldy molds and creating a roomier space for their self-expression.

It may be a premature conclusion, but at least some of the Cobalt Blue's inspiration appears to have come from Maestro Wilson himself. For example, Autumn (Track #2) sounds almost like a re-enactment of the Lips of Ashes ? with enough creative differences not to come across as a direct imitation. In one place, I swear I could hear what sounded to my ear like a sample from the Phase I of Voyage 34.

But, it's all good; only time will tell what these fine young men will evolve into. I am certainly looking forward to their next release.