BRIDGE ACROSS FOREVER

I much prefered the debut maybe because it sounded a lot like early SPOCK'S BEARD but it also featured more individual moments like guitar solos, mellotron, bombastic drumming etc. They sounded like they were having more fun and I felt like I benefited from the individual performances. In short it was more exciting and more dynamic. Sure maybe they were all showing off to one another a bit, but it "rocked". This album is more of a team effort and the focus seems to be more on the songs themselves, making the actual individual performances less important. I know for many this is better, but not for me. It's why i'm not a fan of concept albums for the most part because the focus is more on the lyrics and the concept than the instrumental work.

"Duel With The Devil" opens with strings before piano then a full sound takes over. Nice guitar 2 minutes in. Vocals (Neal) don't arrive until after 4 1/2 minutes as it settles. Mellotron before 6 minutes. It settles again as Roine sings this time 7 1/2 minutes in. It kicks back in after 9 minutes and check out the organ before 10 1/2 minutes. Portnoy does his thing a minute later followed by a calm. Some guest sax before 14 minutes. Neal's back singing with some good organ runs 15 minutes in. It settles again 21 1/2 minutes in with some female backing vocals. Nice guitar before 26 minutes. "Suite Charlotte Pike" sounds great with an almost funky intro. Vocals before 2 minutes and it's not as funky now. It settles with piano before 5 minutes as Roine starts singing. Some harmonies to in this BEATLES flavoured tune. The piano and drums sound incredible 8 minutes in. A strong BEATLES flavour late.

"Bridge Across Forever" is a ballad. Not a fan of this one at all. "Stranger In Your Soul" is the best track on here in my opinion. Mainly because it rocks out pretty good at times. It opens with strings like the opening track for some reason. A good rhythm comes in and some excellent organ. Check out Trewavas on bass ! He really impresses me on this track. Reserved vocals 3 minutes in. It kicks in after 6 minutes. Great sound. Amazing drum and bass work after 11 minutes, then Roine rips it up a minute later. Best section on the album. A calm 13 minutes in and fragile vocals after 14 1/2 minutes. It kicks back in after 18 minutes with huge bass, then settles a minute later as the tempo and mood continues to shift. A powerful sound comes in late before piano ends it.

I do find the two TRANSATLANTIC records to be quite different from one another, this one is good, the first one is great !