DO NOTHING TILL YOU HEAR FROM ME

Here we have basically a solo album of one of the most demanded bassists on present prog scene. I have followed Nick Beggs since his recent works with some of my favorite artists - Steve Hackett, Steven Wilson, and also John Michtell's Lonely Robot. So when I got known about this, I couldn't miss it. I also saw him live several times, and besides his exceptional musicality, he seems like an intelligent and humorous guy. And my expectations have been really fulfilled - Mr. Beggs is also a talented composer showing here that he also apparently learned a lot from his music "employers".

Music really often recalls aforementioned artists, in terms of sounds, stylistics and overall quality, although it doesn't sound as duplicate or imitation of neither of them. Right from the beginning, we have a smash prog-hit - beautiful melodies, thundering precise rhythms, catchy riffs, amazing chord shifts. This fashion continues over the whole album, with a lot of variety but still enough of consistence.

Roger King is obviously a key member for Beggs to elevate potential of his music, adding keyboard wizardry and atmosphere with his keyboard palette and soundscapes' engineering, as he had done with Hackett's albums. Marco Minnemann, as well as other drummers add proficiency to rhythm section which is breathtaking throughout. Beggs's melodic/pop sensibility make sure that songs catch the ear from first time, but they still are growers due to details and musicianship hidden in them - particularly sound textures, odd time signatures and melodic shifts thrown here and there. Some may complain about high-piched, rather melancholic lead vocal of Beggs which he uses in other projects usually for layering harmonies. I find his voice enjoyable and emotional, fitting well to the music.

Mr. Beggs and his band prove that music can still be very refreshing and intelligent in 21st century, in defiance of circumstances of contemporary musically rather degenerated world. Album is varied lyrically too - cleverly critical and thought provoking, sometimes very personal. Actually I may like this even more than Wilson's and Hackett's recent outputs. Although I don't have any negatives to say about this album, I am still rather shy to call it a masterpiece. Nevertheless this is an excellent album that deserves more attention here on PA than it has so far.