THE SOUND OF DREAMS

David Minasian produced a masterpiece in 2010 with the powerful symphonic journey of Random Acts of Beauty, with guest artist Camel's Andy Latimer. 10 years later he has returned and has even surpassed his guest list with the likes of Justin Haywood, Annie Haslam, Steve Hackett and Billy Sherwood, among other prog specialists.

The Wind of Heaven (Prologue) opens the experience with mellotron soaked tranquillity and Haywood's gentle vocals caressing the soundscape. It's a Moody Blues style track with sheer moments of beauty that transport you on the threshold of a dream.

All In is a beautiful, haunting track with mellotrons, Minasian's guitar prowess and sensuous piano. The vocals are heartfelt and inject a transfusion of life to the lyrical beauty. The guitar work is incredible.

Faith Hope Love is an instrumental that includes gorgeous flute over keyboards with a purely pastoral atmosphere. The music is organic, transitioning from staccato passages of guitar into lilting dreaminess on piano.

The Sound of Dreams is a suite in 3 movements and First Movement has the phenomenal vocals of Annie Haslam, sounding as eloquent and lovely as she does on Renaissance albums. I love the lyrics "all the ponds and rivers dance, and nothing is what it seems, their love fills my heart, unfolding into the Sound of dreams". She holds that last note for so long on a high octave note, it is simply breathtaking. The choral synth intonations are uplifting to the soul and Hackett's guitar work is beautiful. The 1st movement is a masterpiece track.

The Sound of Dreams (Second Movement) is an up-tempo instrumental with great basswork from Billy Sherwood. The guitars soar with powerful melodic expression.

The Sound of Dreams (Third Movement) is a showcase for Hackett and Minasian's piano melodies, trading off each other with unity. The musicianship is next level with such talent on display. Hackett plays his Gibson with so much emotional fervour, it is absolutely soulful and sublime to the ear.

Road to Nothingness has acoustic vibrations, piano and mellotron accompanied by floating flute instrumentation. The vocals return of Minasian and he is well accompanied by his son Justin, playing guitars and keys. The lead break is beautifully played with some eloquent fast fret work and string bends that soar and dive.

Room with Dark Corners has the lovely vocals of Julie Ragins, a song about the longing to express passion when night begins to fall in and the desire is strongest. The guitars are wonderful again on this folk prog track sounding like Mostly Autumn in texture.

Hold Back the Rain continues the falling rain motif heard throughout the album, a metaphor for melancholy reflection. I love the bird sounds too creating an atmosphere of a new dawn awakening. The romantic flute and piano chime in and augment the tranquil soundscape. Minasian sings about living without fear, you have the door to open your heart, you and I can hold Back the Rain, erase all the clouds, and whatever we choose we can achieve if we hold onto love and do not waste the day. I love the positive attitude on the album and it's uplifting message of hope.

Twin Flames at Twilight almost clocks into 14 minutes, and is another genuine highlight. The Spanish style acoustic flourishes are joined by medieval flutes with Pastoral nuances. The atmosphere is charged with beauty and mellotrons hover above the clouds like a soaring dove. Synthesisers join a rhythmic guitar and vocals. The song reflects on the grandeur of nature and love intermixed together as one. Then the clouds break into a thunderous barrage of guitar distortion, startling as it's the first metal sound and it works. The aggressive onslaught of lead guitar is tremendous juxtaposed with all the tranquillity that came before it. I love that powerful guitar soloing, distorted and glorious, then acoustics break through returning to the rivers of mellotron. The shades of light and dark are welcome, as though we were caught in the middle of a storm and the sunlight has broken through the darkened clouds to spread its rays of hope over the rain soaked landscape. Minasian sings about passion that slips away like dreams in the Twilight. Acoustics bookend this masterful track.

So Far from Home has the vocals of PJ Olsson from Alan Parsons Project and it is refreshing to hear another approach to the singing. His voice drifts along a ribbon of synthesiser flute and piano.

The Wind of Heaven (Epilogue) is a 10 minute journey of discovery, driven by the gorgeous tones of Annie Haslam. The guitars of Hackett soar over swathes of mellotron. The melody is melancholy and reflective as the lyrics explore meaning in lost love and the spiritual search for truth. The song closes the album on an air of hope and discovery of ourselves.

Overall, the ten year wait was worth it, as Minasian and these prog legends have generated a very special musical experience that is a symphonic delight to the ears.

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