WALK ON WATER

I got this teaser for a mere pittance , curious but nevertheless leery about Clive Nolan, possibly my hardest prog musician to figure out , a virtuoso capable of amazing highs and some maudlin lows as well. I have had a hard time getting into Arena, Pendragon, Shadowland, Casino, Strangers on a Train , Jabberwocky etc...because while some parts are superb, others remain ho-hum. I guess it's me....If this short EP is any indication, then perhaps Clive has found the ideal foil for his Wakemanisms, concentrating more on the piano's lyrical ornamentation than the swirling pompous fanfare he occasionnaly bursts out with. Polish singer Agnieszka Swita is another in a long line of fabulous female singers from that country , must be something in the wodka and she really brings to life the 4 tracks that are presented here. "Walk on Water" has some delightful moments, a prissy upbeat wallop that has both power and presence, showcasing both male and female vocals sumptuously. Yes, its a bit "commercial" but in a good way, flush with a strong melody and a passionate delivery. Caught myself humming this a few times, nothing wrong with that! "Shadows" is more temperemental, where the Kate Bush tremoloes come to play in a melancholic piano-driven arrangement, hushing and trembling like a true diva (Sarah Brightman comes to mind as well), a truly inspiring piece of opera-prog to say the least. "I Can See your House From Here" will perhaps fool Camel fans but its a different animal altogether, a lush power ballad with that amazing sense of familiarity , a colossal chorus that imprints the brain immediately. Here her voice has a slight Maggie Reilly (Oldfield) feel, very aglow with fiery passion and superbly paced blues based elocution that sends shivers down my old spine . I must say I have been hooked on this one , singing along while driving , windows down, much to the consternation of Calgary's traffic! C&W this ain't ! My girls will love this one...."Invisible" puts the final stab in my hesitant heart, another luxuriant piano-based promenade that ultimately satisfies, a gentle exercise that again develops a massive plaintive melody, with sublime vocal delivery , proving that when Nolan concentrates on the ethereal instead of the bombast, he becomes a huge talent. The Bushisms (no, not the Dubya!) are self evident, you can picture her pleading with despair and finally convincing the fans that this is the real deal. I will search out the full length album and progress . 4 Awakenings