HALF WAY HOME

DEEEXPUS was the brainchild of multi-instrumentalist Andy Ditchfield who is also a songwriter, composer and producer. "Half Way Home" is the debut and really a duo at this point with Tony Wright the singer plus we get several guests adding solos here and there. I liked this album from the first spin, in fact I was quite surprised at how much I enjoyed this obscure band. Yes Andy is a huge PORCUPINE TREE fan and going to one of their concerts inspired him to keep going in the music business so we do get that "In Absentia"/"Deadwing" vibe happening on this 59 minute record. This recording is nice and heavy at times with those riffs, lots of depth with a good singer and good songs making this a solid 4 star recording in my world.

"Greed" the opener is a top three for me with those repetitive sounds and repeated themes but bottom line this just sounds great. Lots of synths on this one. "Pointless Child" is almost as good and I like the electric piano on this one. Some beauty here as well. "PTtee" is a top three and the over 12 minute homage to PORCUPINE TREE usually with the guitar expressions but also with the vocals. This song has it all, the heaviness, lots of synths even sequencers early on. The vocals before 8 1/2 minutes are shockingly Steven Wilson.

We get a couple of 7 minute range tracks after this in "One Eight" and "Seven Nights". "One Day" reminds me of PT with the samples and music over 1 1/2 minutes then there's the mammoth closer, the title track at over 17 minutes. This is not without it's flaws like the whole album but it also hits some highs. Man they are on fire late after 13 minutes and then anthemic is the word a couple of minutes after this. A sample of someone giving a speech is so PT after a powerful section where the guitar is on fire around the 7 minute mark.

A very good album that PT fans should have some love for but as much as I've referenced PT it really just has that flavour pop up every once in a while. They contrast sounds very well, the mellow and heavy. A feel good album for me.