CLOSER

This Clive Nolan project started around early 2005,when Clive met Polish singer Agnieszka Swita in London through a mutual friend.By March 2005 they begun recording together under the concept of the musical adaption of English writer's Henry Rider Haggard novel ''She''.To promote this work Clive and Agnieszka decided to tour in Europe and South America in 2006,while by the fall of the year the EP ''Closer'' was released,giving a first taste of what the project would sound like.In this work the duo receives help by Mark Westwood on guitars (Shadowland,IQ), John Jowitt on bass (IQ,Arena) and Andy Edwards on drums (Frost,IQ).

Reasonably the album falls into the keyboard-based rock category with Nolan dominating the sound with his grandiose and orchestral playing on the rocking numbers and delivering smooth piano parts on the ballads.Agnieszka has a fantastic voice and a wide range of emotional approach with operatic,offensive and warm singing,depending on the track.The overall style has strong links with symphonic music and plenty of Opera elements and gives a good picture of the upcoming ambitious work,while the arrangements are of first class with a cinematic flavor.The role of guitars and the rhythm section is more supporting,but they still add an even more bombastic atmosphere to the general sound-picture.

Clive and Agnieszka managed to catch the attention of public with this short release and making the listener wanting for more.Great symphonic music mixed with rock elements and another proof of Nolan's endless creating talent.Highly recommended.