SMPT:E

A super-group for the modern progressive rock era, Transatlantic have, since their inception in 2000, become hugely popular, rivalling each member's individual group for both kudos and record sales. For those of you who have been living in a cave for the last ten years the line-up is made up of ex-Spock's Beard vocalist-and-keyboardist Neal Morse(post his religious conversion)long-time Marillion bassist Pete Trewavas, Dream Theatre-drummer Mike Portnoy and The Flower King's main-man and guitarist Roine Stolt. A genuine multi-national affair(Trewavas hails from Wales, Stolt is Swedish and Portnoy and Morse come from the old U S of A), the Transatlantic 'idea' was the product of a modern prog arena where all-star projects seemed to becoming the everyday norm. Thankfully, Transatlantic managed to imbue their love of good, old-fashioned progressive rock epic's with a sense of good-time fun, giving their debut album a lively, energetic feel that only goes to enrich the superb musicianship on show, thus demonstrating that a super-group set up can, in the right hands at least, work. The album itself kicks off with the half-hour long 'All Of The Above', a song worthy of any great prog album featuring dynamic interplay from the foursome, complex rhythms, jazzy hues, masterful prog breaks, and a genuine all-encompassing feel for all strands of modern prog before finishing off with a splendid version of Procol Harum's 'In Held Twas I', a song many believe to be the first ever piece of proper prog. In between these epics are a set of shorter, sharper efforts featuring Stolt's intricate guitar-playing, Morse's breathy vocals, Portnoy's barrage of drum tricks and Trewavas' rock-steady bass, with each piece displaying the hallmarks of a tightly-knit unit who obviously consider each other as equals. A real treat, SMPTE is an immensely entertaining album that more than fulfills it's obvious potential. STEFAN TURNER, LONDON, 2010