VISA

So. On Duncan Mackay's third solo album, he has thrown away his backing band, other than a light drum track by none other than Simon Phillips, completely rid himself of all Keith Emerson imitations from the previous ventures, and has left himself with, well, nothing.

Track after track, Mackay gives us a sound that has the Euro-pop aspirations of Kraftwerk, the synthesizer swirling patches of Tangerine Dream, all bound together with the compositional sensibilities of elevator Muzak.

Mackay, at least, is an adept keyboardist. He does occasionally add some fills that make the ears perk up, but with the material he has given himself it is generally a lost cause.

It's too bad, because I really like his first two releases.

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Posted Thursday, March 21, 2013 | Review this album | Report (Review #933629)

Fistful of keyboards?

Visa is Duncan Mackay's third album, released in 1980. In being an entirely electronic affair based on synthesizers and drum machines, this album is very different from both his earlier and his later albums. There are no vocals and no other instruments involved. I'm often reminded of Jean-Michel Jarre while hearing this music, which is not necessarily a bad thing depending on your taste. While it is a far cry from the excellent Symphonic Prog of Chimera, I find it reasonably enjoyable.

Taken for what it is, not a bad album. But defnitely not the place to begin your investigation of Duncan Mackay

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Posted Thursday, August 16, 2018 | Review this album | Report (Review #1978134)

Duncan Mackay, a promising (UK born) piano wunderkind from South Africa, equipped with a collection of cutting edge polyphonic and mono synths, with the Hammond organ being his weapon of choice, set out to the world of the British Isles to unfold the wings of his musical career as a session keyboard ... (read more)

Report this review (#2967401) | Posted by Hrychu | Tuesday, November 7, 2023 | Review Permanlink

Mackay certainly isn't your average prog rock veteran. Raised in Britain but a native of South Africa since the early seventies, in 1974 Mackay released his Emerson inspired (and very creative and engaging) debut. 77 saw the less prog more pop but still creative Scores. Visa, on the other ha ... (read more)

Report this review (#1955928) | Posted by WFV | Tuesday, August 7, 2018 | Review Permanlink

? After reading a hilariously negative review of this album, I was intrigued. After hearing the album, I was even more intrigued. From the moment I experienced this album I was equally horrified and in love. I do not think I have ever heard anything quite like it. The music is arranged like regul ... (read more)

Report this review (#936381) | Posted by The Mystical | Thursday, March 28, 2013 | Review Permanlink

Popcorn anyone? I am truly horrified by this album, the first ever solo work (I've heard) by Duncan MacKay. If this is Prog, then I don't know what isn't? Lets make no mistake, Mackay is a familiar name as he had contributed to a number of relatively Prog albums. All of which will be serio ... (read more)

Report this review (#930471) | Posted by BORA | Friday, March 15, 2013 | Review Permanlink

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