AWAKE AND DREAMING

London-based band, established in 2003 by singers and multi-instrumentalists Mike Morton and Leroy James, the two of them had been working together for two decades in mainstream groups.Immediately they started working on a 45-min. epic piece, influenced by the invasion in Iraq, called ''Awake and dreaming''.As they felt during the process that they would need some help with this project, they recruited Jim Thomas on keyboards, Rod Haverhill on bass and ex-The Enid David Storey on drums.Two years later the piece was complete and sent to Cyclops.Malcolm Parker, owner of the label, was really surprised, but asked the band to offer some more minutes of music to complete a long CD issue.The Gift came up with a second epic, the 30-min. ''Fountains of ash'' and eventually their debut ''Awake and dreaming'' was shelved in 2006.

While listening to the title-track (the final version of which clocked at about 40 minutes) I can see plenty of reasons why Cyclops' boss wanted to sign the band instantly.This is a great, well-composed and socially sensitive piece of modern Prog with Neo and symphonic references along the lines of SPOCK'S BEARD, ARENA, MAGIC PIE and the likes with a rich sound and a vast palette of atmospheres, delivering at moments some superb musicianship.The music is melodic, grandiose and dreamy with emphasis on refined piano arrangements, bombastic keyboards, guitars with both an angular and more laid-back edge and some decent blinks to the past with a few organ themes.The same occurs for the vocals, which are clean and expressive.''Awake and dreaming'' is divided in 12 short movements with a tight coherence and the result is pretty close to compatriots ALSO EDEN, music evolving from the 70's but served in a contemporary way.Lovely work indeed."Fountains of Ash" is pretty nice as well, albeit a bit less strong than the opening epic, and divided in 7 segments.The band retains the standard British flavor of the sound, which comes a little closer to PINK FLOYD at moments and offering again some beautiful lyricism.Musically it stands a bit on the edges compared to the previous piece, characterized either by mascular guitar work and powerful keyboards or smooth musicianship with piano, vocals and mellow guitars in evidence.Despite the more pronounced use of vintage keyboards like organ and Mellotron and some discreet string sections, the overall style flirts more intensely with classic British Neo Prog like PALLAS, QUASAR or PENDRAGON.The melodies are striking and memorable and the arrangements are well-performed with a good balance.

Great first step for The Gift.Dense but always melodic Neo/Symphonic Prog with fantastic vocals and tight musicianship.Strongly recommended...3.5 stars.