Country: USA
Sub Genre: Instrumental Progressive Rock
Label: Basement Avatar Records
Release date: May 27, 2014
Tracklist:
1. The Prisoner - 12:28
a) The Illusion I (The Chamber)
b) The Dream
c) The Fairy Forest
d) The Illusion II (Keys To The Kingdom)
2. Awakenings - 19:33
a) The Avatar
b) Starchild
c) Ice Castles
d) Salamandrina
e) The Dancing Bear
f) Ascension
g) The Jester King
3. The Precipice - 13:20
a) The Gauntlet
b) Threnody For the Forlorn
c) Entr’acte
d) Stardock
e) The Illusion III (Hypnogogia)
f) The Agathokakalogical Chasm The Prisoner
Line-up:
Jay Allen - Keyboards, Piano
David Hobizal - Drums
Xander Rapstine - Guitars, Mandolin, Ukulele, Melodica, Glockenspiel, Percussion
Kyle Robarge - Bass
With
Brian Butz - Tuba
Roy Coon - Clarinet
Phil Davidson - Violin
Kullen Fuchs - Trumpet
Jeff Halliburton - Timpani
Chico Jones - Percussion
Melanie Morgan - Flute
Chris Pickens - French Horn
Tony Rogers - Cello
Shauna Satrom - Trombone
Brian Kremer, Jamie Moellenhoff, Greg Smith - Vocal Soloists
The Proud Peasant Choir: Angus Barrs, Charlie Campbell, Jennie George, Chico Jones, Xander Rapstine, Susan Rossi, Joy Smith
Description/Reviews:
The opening track of the trio on offer on Flight is, “The Prisoner” (12:28) and it starts with an exquisite acoustic guitar passage heralding the track in, before other instruments join in. There is a thudding drumbeat and then around the 1:30 minute mark the sound starts to really build. Superb guitar and keyboards carry the song along when an electric guitar meanders in and out before the sound gets stripped back to the drums and acoustic guitar. More insistent drumming then heralds in the next part of the track, with synths and a stunning electric guitar playing in a dreamlike manner. The sound builds again with the other instruments appearing, and then around 5 minutes, there is a gentle synth and mandolin passage as the song continues to flow effortlessly. An almost pastoral sound has built up before a more insistent synth lends a hand. Around the 7 minute mark, the track changes completely with the introduction of some of the brass instruments, backed by some “military” style drumming and a passage of plucked violin leads into a plaintive trumpet theme. This scenario calls to mind the sort of Mexican scrublands epitomized in those classic Clint Eastwood westerns. There is then a return, behind the trumpet theme, of the earlier themes as the track moves on its way towards its 12:28 minute finale. “The Prisoner” is an excellent starting track which leads onto track 2, “Awakenings,” with the sort of voices heard in a mythical tale. As the track fades, the last thing that is heard is “I now present you with the Keys to the Kingdom.”
Read the full review by Jim “The Ancient One” Lawson at
progrockmusictalk.com
Media/Samples
Bandcamp
Links:
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