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"Twelfth album in a 20-year career for a Spock's Beard at the top of his game. To be enjoyed urgently."
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5/5
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Started 20 years ago with the release of "The Light", Spock's Beard's discography is enriched in this year 2015 by a twelfth studio album, "The Oblivion Particle", in which the band presents an unchanged line-up compared to its previous production ("Brief Nocturnes and Dreamless Sleep") released two years before.
Summarizing such a long career in a single track might seem a challenge, but that's what Spock's Beard succeeds brilliantly from the very beginning of the album with 'Tides of Time' which, in almost 8 minutes, offers a summary of all the band's know-how. An odd rhythm to start with, served by ultra-precise and powerful drums, a very seventies analogical Hammond organ recognizable among a thousand, majestic choirs inherited from Yes, a bass singing at will, trace the thread of a composition with multiple twists and turns alternating very accessible vocal parts and epic instrumental interludes.
If on this first track Ted Leonard's voice appears a little behind, probably due to a post-production work not very happy in my opinion, the man will very quickly get back on the rest of the album, while Jimmy Keegan will do better than the substitute (who said substitute?) on the excellent 'Bennett Build a Time Machine', a title inspired by the magnificent artwork on the cover, and a joyful single in power.
The foundations having been laid, the band will continue to unfold their message, alternating complex instrumental cavalcades passing from jazz fusion to metal in a few seconds through careful transitions, with vocal passages with unstoppable melodies, the perfect example of these great differences being served by 'The Center Line'. In the same spirit, we also underline the incredible dexterity of the instrumentalists and notably Dave Meros on bass on 'A Better Way to Fly', a track that then takes a 180° turn by the grace of a vocal canon that the band has the secret. And then, how can we miss the icing on the cake constituted by the presence of David Ragsdale (Kansas), whose violin solo in dialogue with the keyboards on 'Disappear' is simply exceptional.
Each track could be described in detail, as the abundance of ideas guarantees new surprises with each listening, while maintaining a remarkable accessibility to the ensemble. Spock's Beard rakes up a very wide range, from the most complex progressive to the almost pop/rock refrains carried by majestic choruses, passing by a small metallic touch that gives all its punch to a very worked out music whose implementation doesn't suffer from any defect, carried by a production of all beauty, at the same time ample and powerful.
With "The Oblivion Particle", Spock's Beard appears to be a self-confident band that certainly doesn't innovate much compared to its previous releases, but remains firmly anchored in its style, which it delivers with incomparable talent and strength. This 12th album positions itself as one of the summits of the year 2015, to be listened to again and again without moderation. - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. Tides of Time - 7:45
02. Minion - 6:53
03. Hell's Not Enough - 6:23
04. Bennett Built a Time Machine - 6:52
05. Get Out While You Can - 4:55
06. A Better Way To Fly - 8:57
07. The Center Line - 7:05
08. To Be Free Again - 10:24
09. Disappear - 6:36
LINEUP:
Alan Morse: Guitares
Dave Meros: Basse
Jimmy Keegan: Batterie
Ryo Okumoto: Claviers
Ted Leonard: Chant
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(0) COMMENT(S)
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READERS
4.3/5 (3 view(s))
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STAFF:
4.5/5 (2 view(s))
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OTHER(S) REVIEWS ABOUT SPOCK'S BEARD
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