KALEIDOSCOPE

STYLE February 2014 Progressive rock. Kaleidoscope is a dynamic and widely varied album of contemporary retro-influenced prog ranging from the stomping, synth lead grandeur of Black As The Sky to the plaintive Beyond The Sun and mostly acoustic Shine. The set opens with the ever-changing twenty-five minute epic Into The Blue which rises wistfully out of silence with dreamy electronic textures and bowed effects before the band piles in with an early climax. The track then drives through some heavy guitar developments before returning to the languid opening theme and the first vocals of the album. As the track progresses it passes through a section quite reminiscent of The Flower Kings recent Desolation Rose complete with that familiar gritty, effected voice. Shine is a delightful piece that gradually gathers from an acoustic guitar opening and sounds like a slightly country-influenced Pink Floyd composition complete with storming lead break in the latter part and subtle sitar strains interwoven. The keening, drum-free Beyond The Sun segues directly into the title track which is the other main epic here and what a wide-ranging track this is: from seventies glam through, soporific interludes, rock song passages, Lennonish-nostalgia, anguished and delicate recallings of the previous track with strings and piano, acoustic strumming and a huge build up that seems somehow manage to sum up the whole album. ARTWORK Having just an electronic promo of the album, I have seen only the front cover image with its symmetrical electric blues and swirling greens. Kaleidoscope is available in a variety of formats including a limited edition with Deluxe Artbook, 2CDs, DVD and Bonus 5.1 Mix DVD-Video in an LP-sized book with loads of pictures, liner notes and a lenticular card cover. There will also be 2CD & DVD Mediabook, Standard 2CD Jewelcase and a 3LP & 2CD in slipcase. One of the bonus discs contains eight cover songs of some of the band's favourites: the Yes masterpiece And You and I, Can't Get It Out of My Head originally recorded by the Electric Light Orchestra, Procol Harum's Conquistador, Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Tin Soldier from the Small Faces, the Focus classic Sylvia, Indiscipline - King Crimson and finally The Moody Blues Nights in White Satin. Another disc in the package is a DVD with the Shine video and a couple of vignettes. OVERALL The fourth studio album from the progressive band Transatlantic - Kaleidoscope - sees the band consolidating their signature sound across a powerful five track suite. Delivering their debut way back in 2000 band members Neal Morse (ex-Spock's Beard), Mike Portnoy (ex-Dream Theater), Pete Trewavas (Marillion), and Roine Stolt (The Flower Kings) clearly still very much love what they do and have a great talent for stitching disparate themes and stylistic elements into imaginative and free-flowing compositions. If you enjoyed previous albums, SMPTe, Bridge Across Forever, or The Whirlwind you won't be disappointed by this latest release. The band's official website holds a wealth of information including tour dates, album notes, purchase options, videos and audio links.