ONE OF THE MANY

Rick is back with the eighteenth studio album, and although it took sixteen years from the debut to the next one, he has certainly made up for it since then, with this his eighth album in 10 years. He has again been joined by long-term musical compatriots Sarah Young (flute), Mateusz Swoboda (cello), Barry Haggarty (guitar), Kane Miller (guitar, violin) and Will (drums & percussion) and Giulia Cacciavillian (flute) is continuing the role he started on the last album, while we also now have a second cellist in Artem Litovchenko.

Here we find Rick at some of his most dreamy and reflective, moving strongly into the symphonic sphere with music that has been heavily influenced by late Seventies The Moody Blues and it is an absolute delight. I have been fortunate enough to have heard and reviewed every release by Rick since 2009's 'Falling Through Rainbows' so this is the twelfth I have come across, and there is no doubt in my mind that not only is he one of the most prolific artists in the genre he is also one of the most consistent. Although his style does change here and there (last time round I said he was inspired by Steve Hackett) his quality control is second to none and I have yet to hear something from him which is short of excellent. His arrangements, combined with his melodic vocals and guitars always makes for an album which is worth playing on headphones and truly falling inside.

The title cut commences with the sound of the internet (it is a modem booting for all of you who are too young to remember the travails of trying to connect), and lyrically is one of his strongest indictments on modern society as he reminisces on the time before the machine where we had to think for ourselves and mis/disinformation were words we had not come across outside of propaganda. The artwork reflects that, as in a post-apocalyptic world all the faceless people stare at their screens and is very powerful indeed. Rick is channelling Pink Floyd, Alan Parsons, The Moody Blues, GTR, Hackett and so much more in yet another essential release.