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SPOCK'S BEARD
(UNITED STATES)
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BRIEF NOCTURNES AND DREAMLESS SLEEP
(2013)
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LABEL:
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GENRE:
PROGRESSIVE ROCK
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TAGS:
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"The listening of this "Brief Nocturnes And Dreamless Sleep" is a pure happiness and allows to rediscover a Spock's Beard in full revival."
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4/5
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This year 2013 has seen the long expected comeback of Spock's Beard with 'Brief Nocturnes and Dreamless Sleep', their eleventh studio album. This opus is the result of a new formation with respectively Ted Leonard (ex Enchant) and Jimmy Keegan on vocals and drums who come to reinforce the combo, joining in a permanent way the former players that are Alan Morse (guitar), Ryo Okumoto (keyboards) and Dave Meros (bass). The arrival of these two musicians allows the renewal of Nick D'Virgilio, drummer/vocalist, who has left the band to take on his role in Cirque du Soleil wholeheartedly.
One of the biggest challenges for the band since the departure of Neal Morse has been to compensate for the loss of his considerable songwriting skills. Well, this album is probably the best one that the band has done since 'Snow', marking the return of the Morse brothers' cooperation on two tracks, 'Afterthoughts' and 'Waiting For Me'. Apart from these two tracks, 'A Treasure Abandoned' and 'Something Very Strange', both written by long-time collaborator John Boegehold, are particularly noteworthy.
One of the characteristics of Spock's Beard, and particularly of this opus, is to offer a powerful sound, with layers of guitars and keyboards which mix perfectly as well as beautiful melodies set on an unerring rhythmic section. Leonard brings a pro-Kansas style with a vocal tone close to 'Steve Walsh' or 'John Elefante'. We feel more the influence of Kansas on 'A Treasure Abandoned' which could have easily been integrated on the album 'Vinyl Confession' of 1982. The arrival of this new frontman seems to have rejuvenated Spock's Beard, bringing a joyful energy which is a pleasure to hear. It contributes to the strengthening of what was already a first quality of the group, namely the vocal harmonies. Those, perfectly realized by Keegan and Morse offer notably a break in the middle of 'Afterthoughts' in vocal canon which comes to make you shiver along the spine or on 'Submerged' and its heady chorus, real hit in power. On the side of the keyboards, Ryo Okumoto is equal to himself. Thus, the introduction to the synth of 'I Know Your Secret' is amazing, and the rest is of the same kind with a very dynamic and lively performance that offers changes of moods and styles.
Listening to this new album is a pure happiness and allows to rediscover Spock's Beard with a great evolution and an extreme refinement. The new group is incredibly innovative and has an excellent technical level, both instrumental and vocal. Spock's Beard is still very present despite this new event that has come to mark out a story that we wish to be as long as possible.
NB: The album also exists in a special version including an additional CD with 5 tracks on which we find particularly an instrumental, 'Postcards From Perdition', which highlights Okumoto's soli and synth technics. - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. Hiding Out - 07:13
02. I Know Your Secret - 07:40
03. A Treasure Abandoned - 08:53
04. Submerged - 04:57
05. Afterthoughts - 06:08
06. Something Very Strange - 08:23
07. Waiting For Me - 12:36
LINEUP:
Alan Morse: Guitares
Dave Meros: Basse
Jimmy Keegan: Batterie
Ryo Okumoto: Claviers
Ted Leonard: Chant
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READERS
4.2/5 (5 view(s))
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STAFF:
4/5 (8 view(s))
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