OBLIVION SUN

A US project from late-00's, installed by ex-Happy the Man bandmates Frank Wyatt and Stan Whitaker, Oblivion Sun were born out of the need of the two musicians to produce some proggy music, after they realized a new Happy the Man work would be difficult to occur after the surprising comeback in late-90's.Whitaker & Wyatt had already collaborated on the ''Pedal Giant Animals'' album in 2006 and their new effort would be the self-titled album of Oblivion Sun in 2007, released on Prophase and featuring also Bill Plummer on keyboards, Chris Mack on drums and Dave DeMarco on bass.

Any kind of a vintage recreation is totally abandoned by the HAPPY THE MAN ex-duo, although their influence is all over the place, as Wyatt and Whitaker seem to follow the path of contemporary Prog and blend the modern productions with their beloved style of the legends of 70's US Prog.The instrumental tracks still follow the Symphonic Rock/Fusion style of HAPPY THE MAN, based on the impressive use of saxes, the twisting keyboard parts and the powerful and dramatic changes.However the heavy use of synths add an appropriate modern approach and the style of Oblivion Sun sounds very fresh and up-to-date with the new Prog age.The hints from the sound of GENESIS, VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR and GENTLE GIANT seem to still haunt Wyatt's and Whitaker's main musical preferences, the musicianship remains always fairly complex but there are also plenty of melodic themes to keep the album balanced.A few tracks sound weaker than the others, like ''Re:Bootsy'' and the mix of Neo Prog-ish synths with funkier rhythms or the more easy-going and rockier but rather uninspired ''The Ride'', the rest though are absolutely satisfying with some fantastic instrumental ideas and plenty of inspired, changing climates.

The two veterans of US Progressive Rock are still hungry for some quality Progressive Rock and ''Oblivion Sun'' prooves just that.Very good album with plenty of blinks to the legendary past of these great musicians.Strongly recommended...3.5 stars.