BOOK OF THE DEAD

This is one of the finest prog releases I have heard in quite a long time. Ken Jaquess should get all the credit for putting this record together although most seem to be focusing on Allan Holdsworth. After hearing the disc several times, I assume John Miner is actually doing the brunt of the guitar work with Allan stepping in for the solos. As much as I like Allan, it is refreshing to hear him outside the context of the usual jazz fusion bubble. Taking nothing away from Allan's brilliant guitar craft, this album could still surive well without him. Although Miner is a different kind of player, he would still do the record justice if he took the solos himself. I know of Heaven's Cafe' and his playing is brilliant as well. Guerin on vocals works for me. Most of us prog heads also love vintage Genesis stuff so I just can't see anyone being offended there. Again I suspect Ryo Okumoto came in as a guest player for the Moog solos. Good solid stuff and again a familiar yet refreshing sound for most progheads. New comer Yvette Devereaux rips on the Zeta violin and again you just have to give credit to Jaquess for picking this lot of talent and making this wonderful album. Ken's bass playing has that classic 70's Rickenbacker sound although I suspect it has been juiced up a bit with other pickups or some sonic mastering in the studio. Regardless it's fat!

All in all the compositions are right on the money, and opening the album with a 20 plus minute epic piece "Infinite Voyage" is surely right up my alley. It's a wonderful listen and one I would recommend to any serious fan of the genre.

Ken Burnett