VISIONS FROM THE PAST

Quite impressive release by this band from Bahrain (!). As it happened with many bands I now love I read about this band through PA. I was curious enough to try to find a CD and hear their sound. The only one available was their last one, the conceptual Visions From The Past. I heard a lot about their earlier releases but since I did not know them, I can't say whether Visions... is any better or worse than their first effords. Besides, this is the first Osiris CD in 16 years (17 if one's counting only original material). By this time there were some line up changes and only the Alsadeql brothers and keyboardsman A. R. Arian remained since their last studio work.

Some people told me they were basicly a neo prog band and did not have much to do with middle eastern music. Well, I don't know about their former sounds, but clearly Visions From The Past is full of middle eastern rhythms, melodies and even instruments. Sure, they are still neo prog, with the usually influence of early Camel, Pink Floyd and Pendragon, but they did release an album that reeks of their arab origins all the time. Even some spoken words in arab are used for good measure. The result, although production is barely adequate to this kind fo music, is a strong collection of songs that mix very well western prog music with traditional Bahrain tunes: the whole CD flows evenly as if neo prog and eastern tradtion were always together. The tunes are never awkward as I initially though they would be.

If you're into neo prog this is surely a must have: melodic, powerful, convincing, emotional, sometimes quite epic, with great guitar and keys interplay (even with some fine Hammond sounds here and there). The singer might be of western origin judging by his name, but the music is definitly from that part of the world. I'm really looking forward to hear their next work because this one is really excellent. Not perfect, neither a masterpiece, but they are on its way to make one soon if they keep this level of quality. An excellent addtion to any prog collection. Four strong stars.