SILENT SENTINEL

There is really only one way to properly appreciate this album. And it's not while driving. Or eating. Or doing housework. Or any other distraction. No, 'Silent Sentinel' is one of those rare albums that require one's complete attention, so that not a note is missed, as each note is perfectly placed, and each tone is carefully crafted. The result is, frankly, spectacular, where the music is continually intriguing, backed by stellar musicianship and thought provoking lyrics. Lines such as 'Midnight creeps circumspect, pours through the cracks in the walls, and there it collects', and 'Pilots serve their resignations, as passengers spurn all destinations but one', should be inspiring to anyone with a penchant for lyrics. But it's the music itself that holds the most intrigue. As for references, one will note (at times) a 'Gentle Giant' influence most notably, with occasional nods to artists such as Anthony Phillips and even 'Hatfield and the North'. Composer extraordinaire Henry Ptak favors minor and often haunting augmented chords that can perhaps call to mind Tony Banks, circa 'From The Undertow', or 'Evidence of Autumn'. Having cited those influences, the album has enough originality in its walls of sound that purists should not be stumbled. And to top it off, 'Silent Sentinel', years in the making, boasts a hearty 77 minutes without a note of filler. What more can one ask for?