BELOW THE RADAR

This sophomore edition effort from UK's Breathing Space is a rather pleasant experience. However, despite their branding by some as a progressive rock band, those looking for highly sophisticated, challenging music won't find much to please their tastes on this effort.

Musically Breathing Space explores a rather simplistic part of the progressive rock territory, with a distinct mainstream tinge to it. Te compositional structures are pretty straightforward, the melodies easyflowing and slick affairs - with just about enough alterations in pace and style to be regardeed as something more than just plain, radio-friendly rock. On this particular album, symphonic textures and a few excursions into vintage art rock territories are additional traits added to the compositions, resulting in a sound that comes across as a blend of AOR and neo progressive rock.

The songs in themselves are pretty easygoing affairs, without many intriguing dimensions to them from an instrumental point of view. The lead vocals of Olivia Sparnenn does add quite a lot to these excursions though. She has a good voice and know how to utilize it, and I suspect many of the tracks are made to be somewhat on the subdued side instrumentally to get the most out of those vocals.

All in all this results in a rather well made effort, dominated by strong and distinct female lead vocals, with an instrumental backdrop that should cater for the tastes of those who enjoy mainstream-oriented art rock of the symphonic variety as well as vintage neo progressive rock.