PHENOMENA

The two man group of veterans Tony Lowe (music & instrumentation) and excellent vocalist/lyricist Damien Child come through with a collection of very enjoyable Neo Prog songs.

1. "First Flight" (7:28) an excellent two-part song with the first being of rich, atmospheric, top quality Neo Prog and the second being a drum-led outro with a PINK FLOYD-like palette. A top three song for me. (13.75/15)

2. "Before Saturn Turned Away" (7:58) gorgeous vocals over some pretty simple and straightforward music. Another two-parter. The first part reminds me of the José Maria Blanc (Pablo El Enterrador) album that came out in 2018 if it had some lead singer from and old Mike Rutherford or Steve Hackett album. Also a little of TONY PATTERSON. (13/15)

3. "Telethesia" (7:51) sounds like a cross between TONY PATTERSON's Equations of Meaning and something by FISH or DAVID GILMOUR (solo). Lots of voice samples and annoying organ in the middle until the full-scale church organ is unleashed--then the song really takes off. It sounds like something off of Genesis Duke--but then it slows back down for the vocals to reenter for a bit before kicking back into drive. Interesting dynamics and chord structure. (12.75/15)

4. "Fear of Flying" (6:32) opens in full form with cool bass play and guitar arpeggi. The vocal is, at times, a little too impassioned for my tastes--like something from a stage musical, but the music is interesting enough to keep me fully engaged. Again, very interesting (unusual) chord progressions used throughout. Again, there are strong suggestions of Genesis Duke (and ABACAB) in this. (8.75/10)

5. "Living in the Sunrise" (6:38) For Tony to try to replicate oboe/clarinet/or cor anglais with a keyboard was unfortunate for this song's intro. In the second minute, it kicks into full speed with a very thickly textured wall of synth washes and Damien's fairly tempered vocal. Again, the unusual chord choices make for some very interesting textures and weaves. My third top three song. (8.75/10)

6. "Sleeping Giants" (6:08) That Joe Payne comes to mind as I listen to the vocal performance on this gorgeous Neo Prog song. My favorite song on the album. (9/10)

7. "Seven Billion Tiny Sparks" (9:00) another multi-part song, the first of which just plods along a little too trudgingly. The second section is better, followed by a weird kind of time warp before things clear out for a sensitive vocal from guest Alison Fleming over some spacey, then atmospheric TONY PATTERSON-like music. Could be a Kate Bush ballad. Gorgeous electric guitar solo in the final minute. (17.5/20)

I am intrigued by Tony's chord sensibilities as well as Damien's ability to find a fitting though often edgy and distinctive melody line with his beautifully modulated voice. Definitely and album and duo worth revisiting.

B+/4.5 stars; a near-masterpiece of well-formed progressive rock music.