THE BALANCING ACT

Kenny Bissett is the lead vocalist for the crossover prog band BUILT FOR THE FUTURE. He has also released two other solo works, BROKEN WILDERNESS and the revisiting of his 80's bands catalog on the FELT NUN album.

Kenny's work is always driven by melody and song. Broken Wilderness stretched a few songs in to the areas that prog touches, Moog solos, organ, mellotrons, and a few long stretched songs.

On the new THE BALANCING ACT, Kenny goes for energy and thrust in the songs. I have listened multiple times and I feel that this album has touches of REVOLVER meets STEVEN WILSONS(later works) meets TEARS FOR FEARS.

RADIATE starts the album off with a bang, driving, melodic and sounding like an anthem declaring that life needs to be illuminated. The melodies sound FIXX-like, the driving guitars never relent on this one. The overall anthemic feel just makes this one of my favorites.

WAKE UP starts with an instrumental extended intro(albeit brief) and then turns in to a beautifully melodic lament about life. The breakdown with the 12 string guitars is glorious to my ears. Almost nothing but 12 string and voice. The melody strikes as McCartneyish and the song ends with a half time pounding cry of wake up!

HOLDING PIECES odd time signature strikes the energy nicely. The guitars are driving and the song has the first flavors of Rush showing. The vocals get FIXX-ish again, and the overall energy and drive makes this song a rocker to me.

LIFE AND TIME is the apparent breath in the album, acoustically driven, introspective and a bit more in the ballad arena. The end of the song goes gently which feels the way life goes as we age.

HUMAN NATURE is pure Steven Wilson guitar pop to me. The guitars jangle, the melodies are infectious. The guitar lines even take me to the 80's Smiths/Cure era. But once the vocals kick in its so incredibly catchy and emotive that this song seems like it should be a radio hit.

IMPOSTER SYNDROME rocks. I can't help but think its Kenny's HELTER SKELTER on the album. The guitars rock hard, and the distortion is almost out of control giving the feel of intensity. The lead break is chaotic, and then the chanting vocal lines with Kenny at the top of his lungs just works. You almost have to pump your fist in the air in declaration when the chorus hits

LOST AND FOUND is another odd time work, ballad for sure. The gentle acoustic against a 12 string jangle is so nice. A simple song, but catchy and emotive

BALANCING ACT returns to the Rush feel, odd time/heavy guitars rock this little gem. The best part of this song is that it is a short run time, but feels like its full and mini-epic. Great driving energy. Great vocals in this one

ALIVE is my favorite song on the album. Clearly an anthem designed to sum up the life theme of the album. To live. To focus on the right things. The acoustic verses and chanting chorus's are so intoxicating to me. The song explodes midway and becomes such an incredibly powerful moment for me. The song just continues to build and build. Such a powerful ending to the theme of the album

THE BRIEF MORTAL is clearly the afterthought/epilogue to the theme. We are only here for as brief moment. Life and go forward. I love the sentiment. The simplicity of the song is perfect after the bombast of Alive. A poignant way to end the album.

Overall, the album is clearly pop/alternative/crossover prog. Songs are the centerpiece. The main instrument is the Rickenbacker 12 string. So the album has a jangling Revolver feel to me. The songs are not far off from some of the more mainstream attempts of Wilson, or even Pineapple Thief or RPWL. The singing is top notch.

Love this album. Can't stop listening to it.