OF THOUGHTS AND OTHER MISGIVINGS

THE ARC LIGHT SESSIONS is the group of frontman John ALARCON, handyman, especially pianist from 11 years old, keyboardist, influenced by ELP, GENESIS, KING CRIMSON, PFM, by Pat METHENY for jazz and classics such as BACH, CHOPIN or HENDEL. A musician who explores the vintage sounds of yesteryear to continue to make us dream about the sounds of dino groups. He has been producing a lot lately, covid obliges I think and this is his 13th album with this ALS project founded in 2015. 40 years of creating music, let's get into the arena.

"Don't You Believe" with Luc intro, classical instrument when you hold us; jazzy vocals with Steve's well-placed drums, sumptuous break with that magic flute; the guitar solo plunges back into the same group with a different reading from what GENESIS could have released; the return of the voice was dispensable, one of the magical titles that plunge into the universe of genesis. "Seeking" medieval symphonic intro with trumpets, soft intro for a calm and also more complex variant, acoustic at the start making all the instruments look like a generalized solo; it's almost pompous, it's above all full of sensitivity, the most beautiful title in my opinion. "Summer's Gone" short title and nursery rhyme ballad with some vintage touches of divine Mellotron that can only regress pleasantly on the 'Trespass' period. "Eye of the Beholder" for a long classic free jazz crescendo; a bit of Robert WYATT's 'Rock Bottom' buzzes during development.

"Conundrum" for a ballad, limit classico-romantic and fine here; the Mellotron is used sparingly as well as Patrick's guitar; piano break all in sensitivity then it gradually advances on the GENESIS sound of the beginnings. "Autumn" on a classic piano version from the intro, the melodic nursery rhyme which is especially worthwhile for its spleen solo à la HACKETT. ; the beautiful piece that makes you cry; the finale flies away, symphonic until the end of the piano. "Always on the Verge" for the pronounced piano and flute melody, soft voice that lacks relief somewhere, a little on Willian Sheller ballads too; the variation makes me think of the beginnings of the great GENESIS before its ardor, Anthony Phillips period; the vintage keyboard space drives the point home, finale on the piano almost jazzy-classic in fact, in short a superb final title.

THE ARC LIGHT SESSIONS is prolific in these uncertain times distilling its pieces stamped symphonic progressive rock, titles generally around 6 minutes. Rock often folk, jazzy, pastoral, bringing back to the beginnings of progressive rock itself. Titles borrowed from delicacy where the sounds are worked it seems to arise in their listening. Here there is no metallic fusion, we stay on the bucolic, meditative floor and that's it; a guaranteed journey into the progressive past. I read that they are classified neo-prog, I correct retro-prog like when we had time with all the quality that goes with it. John ALARCON is a good musician, a very good musician who has a noble approach. This album is to be listened to by the fire while listening to the crackling flames.