BLIND MICE

At one time, the artist know as The Psychedelic Ensemble (TPE) responded to an interviewer asking why he wanted to remain anonymous, and his reply was that he didn't want his works in the progressive rock and classical genres to reflect on one another -- he wanted each to be judged independently. But it's getting harder to do, as the last few releases have demonstrated TPE's genius at composition. His classical background is becoming more and more evident in his prog works. Blind Mice clearly shows his prowess as an elite composer and highly skilled multi-instrumentalist. It would comfortably be classified in either genre. In some ways, this piece is simpler than the more energetic, highly-orchestrated works on The Tale of the Golden King or The Sunstone -- having only keyboard, guitar and violin, but at the same time, the intricate interplay between them makes it sound more complex. Davis Brooks on violin adds a sublime backdrop throughout, but really stands out in the intro and the nearly minute-long solo for the outro. More cerebral and somewhat less energetic than any of his other recent works, it remains to be seen whether this sets the tone for an upcoming release, or is an exception to the rule. Five stars all day.