THE KEY, PART I - THE PROPHECY

Like prog-jester, I do like Clive Nolan very much. I enjoy his work within "Arena" and "Pendragon" and awful lot (looking forward to see the latter pretty soon in Belgium - October third for the 30th anniversary tour of "Pendragon").

This album is more to put into perspective with his work with Wakeman ("Jabberwocky" and "The Hound of the Baskervilles") since this is also a concept album. Of course, this one is much more minimalist or less pompous if you prefer ("Losing A Hold On Life").

Truly a work of a keyboard player with lots of piano sounds, a great vocal partner (who has also been singing on the Nolan-Wakeman projects): Tracy Hitchings. She is very well known in the prog world mainly for her work with "Landmarq".

It is difficult to point out a song in particular, meaning that highlights are not plenty. A sequence of good songs of which the opener features great vocals. Some weaker tracks as well are floating on this album. The instrumental "Crossing The Wasteland" for instance. A showcase for Clive who is too obviously playing his Keith Emerson.

Same sort of comment, but for different reasons, during "Perchance To Dream". The fantastic vocals from "The Great Gig in the Sky" are instantly coming to mind while listening to this good song. But the idea is not new.Still, Tracy is great.

It is not easy to stay tuned for over an hour, which is the duration of this album. A track as "Occam's Tears" (the longest of the whole) is rather boring to my ears. It is completely inconsistent and too much repetitive. And I can't get thrilled by the mellowish "From The Outside In". Press next at this time.

The only moving song (both vocally and musically) is "Healing The Rift". A wonderful melody and a sublime guitar work form the discreet Karl Groom ("Shadowland" and "Threshold").

It is a real pain for me to rate this work with only two stars, but I can honestly call this effort a good one. Clive has used us to much better things.