A LIGHT IN THE SKY

Don Airey has been behind the keyboards in some pretty big bands over the decades. He's played with Cozy Powell, Gary Moore, Ritchie Blackmore, Ozzy Osbourne, David Coverdale, Joe Lynn Turner, Glen Tipton to name just a few. Currently he's playing for Deep Purple and is possibly the only one who could have stepped behind the Hammond organ after Jon Lord decided to retire from the band. Airey's previous solo album K2 was about 20 years ago. Musically it was diverse and showcased Airey's talent as a musician and composer but it was steeped in the 80s sound, which is something you love, hate or tolerate. Light in the Sky is, in my opinion, a surprisingly fantastic album. Airey makes excellent use of his skills behind the piano, hammond organ and synthesizer (his big thing in the 70s was a Moog synthesizer) and also showcases his talent as a composer.

The album starts of with a short instrumental that might make you think you are at the movies and watching the add for Digital Sound or THX. Then there's an instrumental that will let you imagine yourself at the planetarium watching a documentary of the galaxy with a rock band performing. The album moves on with different flavours and textures, sometimes going heavy with guitar and hard rock vocals, sometimes going all SF, and sometimes even waxing classical.

Towards the end of the album we can hear some fabulous piano work on Into Orbit, accompanied by violin, and on Sombrero, which is my favourite track off the album for its frantic pace and almost Spanish feel. It's hard to imagine that the guy who played so many standard synthesizer chords on some famous guitar band albums is ripping up the keys here like a blitzkrieg.

There's a heavy Hammond organ instrumental called Pale Blue Dot and the impressive closing instrumental Til the End with more fast finger work on the piano keys. The album offers a few songs with vocals as well in case you are not up for a completely instrumental album.

Overall I was very impressed with this album. But I also noticed that after a few months it was not available anymore. Airey's new album is out and I would love a chance to snag it before it becomes a rarity. If it's anything like this, it will be amazing! Truly an essential addition with serious consideration for a masterpiece!