EMOTIONAL CREATURES - PART ONE

Not every unknown musician manages to present such an impressive list of known progrock guest musicians as Steve Thorne: Nick D'Virgilio, Geoff Downes, Tony Levin and members from IQ (Martin Offord, John Jowitt and Paul Cook) and Jadis (Gary Chandler), welcome on Steve Thorne his debut CD! The biography mentions that singer/songwriter Steve Thorne comes from the southern part of England, over the years he has played in venues across the country both as a solo performer as the founding member of Colony Earth and The Salamander Project. More recently he has stepped 'off the island' to support Jadis on tour in the UK and Europe (Belgium, Germany, Holland and Spain). Steve was well received and gained much praise. The record company Giant Electric Pea (IQ) mentions on this solo-CD influences from folk and Peter Gabriel, Rush, Genesis, Jethro Tull to Tears And Fears. Well, I can trace a lot of these bands and artists on Steve Thorne his album "Emotional Creatures: Part One" but I have to say that his music is not an ordinary rip-off. Steve has written 11 very beautiful and elaborated songs that are scouting the borders between folk, pop and progressive rock. It's obvious that Steve is a singer/songwriter: lots of acoustic guitar, strong vocals and interesting lyrics (like the cynical "God Bless America") but the creative way he integrates lots of instruments in music, reminds me of Peter Gabriel. At some moments Steve sounds like Gabriel (especially in "Every Seconds Counts" featuring Tony Levin on his distinctive stick) but without copying him. Using many members of IQ, it's not very surprising that we can discover elements of this famous neo-progrock band like in "Ten Years" (a mellow IQ). Although this is not a progrock album in the vein of Pink Floyd, ELP of Genesis, this fine debut-CD from Steve Thorne has delightened me. Steve is a great and very creative musician who makes music from his heart, using his brain for the balance!