MOONSHINE

What a masterpiece! This symphonic progressive album really rocks! Like it was the case for Marillion-misplaced childhood, many young 13-14 years old girls like this stuff, because it's very emotional! The lyrics talk about love and feelings! Very positive and simple lyrics! Nothing is dark! What on this record steal the show? It is so hard to conclude that the answers may be different depending on how you feel this music: this means that all the instrument are outstandingly well played and elaborated. First of all, the guitar is constantly on the high notes, like on Jadis' More than meets the eye; the difference is that here the guitar is Hackett-esque, very ethereal and echoed, constantly approaching the Steve Hackett's "Every day" solo sound, although just a bit more muted. The keyboards are amazingly varied, multi-layered, floating, rythmic, melodic, and very symphonic: the keyboards often form a continuous intense texture in the background that, combined with the echoed guitar solos, will make you dream. Many bits of this record may be qualified as romantic. The low frequencies on this record are a bit too boosted, so that sometimes it becomes harder to listen clearly to the other instruments than the bass. That's why you have to decrease a bit the low frequencies gain, not too much, especially if you listen it loud. The lead vocals are very good, despite the presence of some insecure tremolos in the voice. Drums are absolutely delightful, complex, full of cymbals patterns and never dull. The tracks are SO loaded, multi-layered, rythm changing and complex that you need a real HI-FI system to really appreciate! My favorite tracks are the epic "In your eyes" and "Moonshine", which are among the all-time best progressive tracks. Finally, let's add that ALL the tracks are OUTSTANDING! Despite the few imperfections mentioned above, 5 stars for this record is the least that I can give!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

EXTREMELY RECOMMENDED!