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Darryl Way - Children of the Cosmos CD (album) cover

CHILDREN OF THE COSMOS

Darryl Way

Crossover Prog


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Matti
PROG REVIEWER
2 stars Considering his respectable career as a member of CURVED AIR and as the leader of WOLF, the electric violinist Darryl Way's solo output seems to be rather disappointing. This new album is the first one I hear, and at first I thought that his other albums can't be this bad and so far from prog, but after reading the very few reviews here I see I was simply expecting too much. My confused first reaction is partly explained also by the fact that originally the album's performance info in this page contained only the electric violin. Sadly the songs are very poppy and vocal-oriented, full of kitchy synths and the horrible drum programming! It's true that the leaflet doesn't prepare the listener for anything like that, quite the contrary. Darryl Way writes: "In this album I have tried to recreate the spirit of experimentation that led to the 'Progressive Rock' movement of the late 60s and early 70s." Ha.

False expectations aside. And better just accept that this music has nearly nothing to do with prog, despite his bold words. First off, his voice is actually nice. He reminds a lot of JOHN WETTON, whose vocals I have always liked. But being technically somewhat weak and slightly nasal, the vocals don't work so well on all tracks, they're indeed very far from Wetton's capacity. The best song-writing comes early in the album. The sound then, it would be very enjoyable - what else with a lovely electric violin in sight - if there weren't that phoney programmed stiffness. Why, oh why?

'Fire With Fire' features pretty female guest voice of Rosie (Rosie who??). A welcome change, as well as the peaceful instrumental version of the traditional tune 'Lagan Love', and another instrumental, beautifully orchestrated 'Sergey' - probably an hommage to Rachmaninoff? The majority of the 55- minute, 12-track album proceeds harmlessly in Soft Rock / Easy-Listening / Celtic-influenced pop, with an 80's-like hollow production. The closing track 'Sergey' is a clear highlight, if you enjoy classical music and shamelessly romantic Easy-Listening such as SECRET GARDEN from Norway.

There is some art music flavour elsewhere too, but combined with the synthetic pop approach it becomes Kitch. The worst example is 'Don't Look Back' that citates Pachelbel's Canon. Hooked On Classics -kind of infantile Super Market crossover. Sad to say this of an album with great-sounding electric violin, but I don't think any advanced friend of classically influenced prog would find this album very good. (Well, someone has rated this a masterpiece...)

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Posted Monday, August 25, 2014 | Review Permalink

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