ELEMENTS

It's not my prerogative to start my reviews with a title but if I would have done that with this album it would have been "perfect fusion" or something like that. Because that's what we are talking about with Dean Watsons second release. Right now the album has the status of "essential: masterpiece of progressive rock" and quite rightly so I would say. After first listening I was already convinced of a rating minimal 4,5 stars but after 5 spins it has even gone up towards 4,5-5 indeed some 4,75.

Dean has increased the measure of fusion grade compared with his debut and is now on the same level as with his previous project WHERE'S THE NINE. In fact this release is largely comparable with Desensitized... with the remark that Imposing Elements is more accessible. And added to that one could say that the accessibility shouldn't be confused with simplicity here because the compositions are complex enough but somehow they are so neately done that it becomes extremely pleasant for the ear. Composition to perfection is another title that comes to mind for this album.

My admiration for Dean's accomplishments were already very high but of his efforts last few years I rank this one highest, by far even. Desensitized was already around the 4,5 mark and Unsettled somewhere around 4,25-4,5 stars for me. I don't know how he does it but he managed to turn it up a notch with Imposing Elements which can only mean the perfect score as far as I'm concerned. I'm getting curious what his next release will be like. Beware !