TALES FROM THE DAM

This third album by German project The Healing Road is a most impressive one - just a few details short of perfection.

There's just two tracks offered here - both of them epic creations clocking in at somewhere around 20 minutes, both of them mostly instrumental ventures.

The first of them blends neo-progressive rock with new age-tinged atmospheres; and is an ever evolving composition gradually building up a mood and atmosphere from a humble start to a majestic, detailed finish and then moved on to the next theme.

The second track continues pretty much in the same manner; but adds in some exotic sounding themes in the first half; at times reminding of Ozric Tentacles; before heading back to the modern symphonic tinged explorations blended with new age elements.

A strong album, well worth checking out by fans of modern symphonic prog of the instrumental variety.

After landing on Musea and with a secured contract, Hanspeter Hess could release his own works with more comfort.So, a second attempt followed ''Timanfaya'' in 2009, the new album carried the title ''Tales From the dam''.With only guitarist Thommy Frank and drummer Stefan Dittmar present from the first album, Hess recruited also three more guitarists, Claus Flittiger, Gilbert Cyppel and Matthias Zalepa, while the voice parts were carried out by Hermann Voges.It seems that the album had been recorded in various home studios around Germany.

The Healing Road's sophomore output is a more ambitious attempt on approaching Progressive Rock with two very long, vastly instrumental tracks offered.The opening 22-min. ''Tales from The Dam Part 1'' is both similar and different from the tracks of the debut.It delivers the familiar lovely Neo/Symphonic Rock of Hess with good keyboards parts, including some haunting Mellotron waves, and strong electric guitars, but it also contains a trully cinematic atmosphere with an OLDFIELD-ian vibe, created by the Electronic soundscapes, the Classical piano lines and the choir-like vocals.Lots of tightly connected variations and some impressive melodies guarantee a great composition, that lies somewhere between LIKE WENDY and KEN BAIRD, fronted basically by its bombastic synthesizer lines.Second track, the 19-min. ''Tales from The Dam Part 2'' is a bit darker with even some Avant-Garde parts in the first half and a couple of dissonant moments with vibraphones and haunting piano, although the mood is on par with the first part.Again some floating multi-layered synths (maybe a bit SPOCK'S BEARD-ish) are leading the way with interesting guitar moves and solos supporting, but its more atmospheric passages are quite sinister and unique.Somekind of dark chants and the definite orchestral movements throughout deliver a beautiful composition, full of impressive musicianship, shifting climates and sudden changes.This is a great combination of melancholic tunes with grandiose moments.

Great work by Hess and his team.Not too stretched, neither tiring, this album explores the limits of Progressive Rock in two long, conveincing and well-executed compositions, that will please the major fan base of Prog music.Strongly recommended...3.5 stars.