AS THE WORLD

Finally Echolyn's music was awarded, after reaching the ears of one of the biggest record companies worldwide, Sony Music/Epic Records.They were offered a multi-album contract, which they signed of course, and most of the year 1994 was spent in significant live performances, inluding their visit at Progfest 94' as well as opening for Dream Theater for three shows on the East Coast.Inbetween they found time to travel to Nashville, Tennessee and record what was going to become the first work for Sony.The album was titled ''As the world'' and was released in March 1995.

Changing label and entering one of the largest music industries wouldn't affect Echolyn's progressive attitude, I would dare to say that the impact was on the other side, the music remained fairly complex and intricate, if not even more challenging compared to the previous studio albums, with the band showing a tendency to add a tad more Fusion vibes in the menu and work less on their symphonic arrangements.Moreover there is even a more rockin' and aggressive approach on vocals and rhythms, following the fashion of the period, which wanted your rock music to contain anger and energy.Of course ''As the world'' has nothing to do with Heavy/Alternative Rock or Grunge, the vocal harmonies are still grounded in a GENTLE GIANT vein and the arrangements rely between complicated instrumental moves and quasi-symphonic lines, but the band had added some power inches in the process.The material is filled with unexpected breaks and odd time signatures with Brett Kull's guitar sounding a bit more jazzy and rockin' and apparently the whole team following his steps and offering quirky piano themes, energetic tempos and explosive synth moves.What strikes the most though is that big part of the music is not very memorable with the band getting a bit lost in their own talents and chaotic instrumental parts.On the other hand an Echolyn release is never a waste of time, the multi-parted ''Letters'' is the track, which shows the true ability of the Americans with the strong KANSAS, YES and GENTLE GIANT vibrations.

Not the most preferable album of the Echolyn catalogue in my opinion, still a nice treasure of challenging and dense Prog Rock with evident 70's flavors.Recommended.