TURBULENCE AND TRANQUILITY

ILLUSION are a four piece band out of Detroit who play a guitar driven brand of music with a vocalist who sounds like a cross between Guy Manning and Gord Downie (TRAGICALLY HIP). Actually the HIP (as we call them up here) are a good refernce point as ILLUSION play a hard rocking style of music with a Folk flavour that comes through at times. I must say the music on this album is something i'd expect to hear on my local Classic Rock station. Nothing too complex, just straight forward catchy tracks that for the most part rock out pretty good.

"Now Is The Nothing" opens with spoken words as the bass comes in. Vocals before a minute. He has such a unique voice, I could see him being well liked by the Southern Rock fans. The song kicks in then settles as contrasts continue. "Bible Black" opens with some atmosphere. Acoustic guitar then the reserved vocals. A folky beginning but then it picks up and gets fuller. "I Am What Might Have Been" contrasts well the heavier sections with the more laid back sections. Nice bass too.

"Of Time And The River" opens with the guitar making some noise before everyone joins in. "You Lied" has a nice heavy intro.Vocals follow in this uptempo track. "All Too Clearly" has lots of energy as vocals and guitar lead. I'm reminded of CHEAP TRICK here instrumentally. "The Despised" has such a great 1 minute intro. It settles when the vocals arrive as contrasts continue. "Tapping" is a cool tune. I like the lyrics. "Immaculant Deception" has lots of fine guitar early. A good song. "Die A Little More Tonight" is a song I can't get into. Reserved vocals and acoustic guitar. "A Winter's Tale" is much better as the guitar leads. "Nevermore" is nice and heavy with vocals. "His Shell" ends it with strummed guitar and vocals.

Maybe not an album that will win a lot of fans on this site necessarily, but a good album nonetheless.