VEIL

A nearly-30-year old Britain-based band that broke up in the late 1990s and then reformed a dozen years ago has now produced six high-quality NeoProg albums. This is their second album with Greek vocal sensation John "Jargon" Kosmidis singing their Matthew Parmenter (DISCIPLINE)-like lead vocals.

1. "Veiled" (2:00) produced as if a vinyl or wax recording with clicks and pops, this "orchestrated" piece almost sounds like a Christmas carol or soundtrack piece for a Hallmark Christmas movie. (4.375/5)

2. "Frailty" (12:05) opens with some bombast and a full-on NeoProg sound palette. Once into the fullness of the song it sounds like hairband classic rock blended with Matin Orford-era IQ and Arjun Lucassen's AYREON while trying to be Rick Wakeman/Fragile-era YES. Not bad, not annoying or cloying, just not anything new or refreshing here. (22/25)

3. "Eros and Psyche" (5:12) there is definitely nothing special here. In fact, the musical instruments feel so separate and fragmented that I wonder if they knew what they were going to sound like before the final mix was presented. Jargon's lyrics may be something worth attending to but I'll never know. (8.66667/10)

4. "The Thing" (7:49) a sea shanty! The story fits. The full-male naval choir chorus would seem to indicate as much. Might this song be inspired by the AMC television series, The Terror? Nicely executed. (13.375/15)

5. "2-Minute Waltz" (2:00) a classical piano show piece. Probably from Pat Sanders' middle school piano recital that he couldn't perform because he was ill or due to a death in the family. (4.375/5)

6. "Through the Veil" (5:45) another bombastic, theatric song that feels as much relevant to a West End theatric production or a Pete Jones album. The soundscape is just a little too sterile, even bordering on stark (in terms of each instrument's isolation from one another). Nice 1980s drumming (sound). (8.75/10)

7. "The Old Man" (5:44) Another well-composed and crystalline-engineered song that feels totally headed for a theatric debut. Who was that singer for the 1980s band ABC? Martin Fry? That's who Jargon sounds like. Even when Jargon stops singing and the instrumentalists ramp things up for some soloing it still sounds as if there are probably stage characters in motion. (8.75/10)

8. "Cirkus" (6:34) bouncy Hammond chord hits and military drumming open this one, giving Jargon a circus macabre stage upon which to relay his story. I do like this PETER HAMMILL voice styling much better than his previous ones: it really adds to the creepy feeling that he's trying to reel us into his spell and pull one over on us. Though I'm still not super enamored of the music, I like this song best of all the other son the album. (8.875/10)

Total Time 47:09

A little too theatre-dramatic for my tastes, this is still very finely crafted and performed music impeccably rendered by the engineers (despite the frequent feelings of sterility).

B/four stars; a very nice collection of very-well-polished theatre songs that most prog lovers will love--especially those with an affinity for stage musicals.

Social review comments

Review related links

• Send comments to BrufordFreak
• Report this review (#3104984)
• Buy DRIFTING SUN music online with PA partners
• Show all DRIFTING SUN MP3/Stream
• Go to DRIFTING SUN page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Veil page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for DRIFTING SUN related discussions