AWAKE AND DREAMING

I listened to this album for the first time yesterday, without preconceptions. Now, I have to say straight off that I'm a lover of early Genesis, and don't really go for neo-prog,as it always seems like waxed fruit compared to the '70s bands. However, this is a fantastic modern prog album. It is like listening to early Genesis mixed with Floyd and Marillion, but more contemporary and experimental. It even rocks like Dream Theater at times, but is so much more - I don't know - European. The first suite, "Awake and Dreaming" (title track) is exceptional. It starts gently, but moves through folky moments, hard rock segments and really angry, dark, furious virtuoso bits and then blossoms into a moving finale which had me in mind of Suppers' Ready. The second suite, "Fountains of Ash" was less accessible at first, but I've played it twice today and love it as well. If you like your prog emotional, unpredictable and tasteful, you'll really enjoy this. The lyrics are very thoughtful, and remind me of Roger Waters, isf a little more poetic. A definite five stars. Stvitusdance.