STOPOVER - LIFE

A really different type of album in my Prog collection. While a lot of 80's style Arena Rock and Progressive Pop seem to make up for much of the sound and style of the album, the musicianship, arrangements, guest vocalist, and overall quality make this an album worthy of mentioning.

I don't think I would have ever known about this album had I not heard Mr. Strange the closing track on an internet radio station. Yes it sounded a lot like Arena Rock but the vocalist was really good and it sounded more Proggy than most songs I like from Asia. So why not? I wrote it down and looked up videos for this album and artist. Eventually bought a couple of albums this one still being my favorite from Moonrise.

A one man project with a couple or so guests seems to be the norm for what you get on a Moonrise album. The musicianship is superb. This Kamel Konieczniak dude is really good. There are some really great acts out of Poland. This is way different from any I have heard. Very 80's Arena Rock approach but very atmospheric and reminds me a bit of those Windham Mill New Age artists in the same decade which makes this even more difficult to categorize. To complicate things more Smooth Jazz/Fusion crossover styles enter in and out of the album. Russ Freeman/The Rippingtons come to mind. It also has flashes of the Instrumental Rock that boosted in popularity at the end of the 80's and became even more popular in the following decade. Yes quite a obscure mixture of styles which really makes it interesting and something completely different in anyone's Prog collection.

Guardian Angel and Unravel Your Soul are a couple of favorites of mine and pretty much all the tracks fit the description I just mentioned. It's an interesting combination of styles. It's a combination of more conventional styles mixed together making it unconventional plus plenty of Prog thrown in. Not for everyone because some of the styles here will polarize a few. If your looking for something different and something more relaxing and mellow. Good coffee shop/lounge type Prog. This might be for you. It actually sounds quite a bit like the Smooth Jazz/New Age music my Father listened to mixed with the Prog I listen to. Somehow this album resonates with me and makes me feel good listening to it. I recommend checking it out and you be the judge.