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Transatlantic - Bridge Across Forever CD (album) cover

BRIDGE ACROSS FOREVER

Transatlantic

 

Symphonic Prog

4.20 | 959 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

The Progmatist
5 stars It would be a shame to write about any other album for my first review. This album is one of my all-time favorites, and it would be difficult to name many others that excite me as much as this one after countless spins. Personally, I think this album highlights Mike Portnoy's best work on the drums. Many legitimately argue that he can overdo it with Dream Theater, but his work here is passionately tight. The interplay between Portnoy and bassist Pete Trewavas in the intro to "Stranger in Your Soul" makes for one of the most powerful song openers I've heard. Guitarist Roine Stolt really shines here as well. His compositional playing blends seamlessly with his solos, which are inspired and emotional. His improvised wah-wah solo in the jam section in "Duel with the Devil" shows off his original brilliance. Personally, I think it is Neal Morse's vocals and piano/synth work that bring this album over the top. His singing is never strained or excessive, but you can hear the emotion in his voice, especially in the climactic sections of each song (which are second to none by the way). His synth layers give the music a 70's prog feel with a modern rock touch, and his piano work is at times nothing short of beautiful. The simplicity of his piano- driven title track is still powerful after 20+ listens.

Actually, this simplicity rings throughout the entire album. This is not to say that this is not a prog record, but only that the band is able to create a coherent piece of music that doesn't smack of earth-shattering complexity. The great thing about this record is that the music is catchy but still surprising. Your dad can enjoy the melodies, but a close listener will always be able to appreciate some new layer or bass touch. In short, this is an emotional album, and the energy spills over the rim. Even though two of the four tracks are well over 20 minutes, few sections ever seem excessive. The instrumentals are usually purposeful and passionate. "Suite Charlotte Pike" has a tendency to wander a bit, but several great parts make most of it worthwhile. "Stranger in Your Soul" can get a bit repetitive, but the intro and ending are so powerful that you can forgive some of its shortcomings. I will surely not give many 5-star ratings, and this should say a lot about this album. These guys have put together a coherent, powerful, and, most importantly, memorable piece of music that I would recommend to both the prog newcomer and the seasoned connoisseur.

The Progmatist | 5/5 |

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