RITES AT DAWN

I've picked this album as my first review probably because of the emotion it stirred inside of me. I've been a progressive rock fan ever since my introduction to 'Dark Side Of The Moon' and ' In The Court Of The Crimson King' around 1975. I was 11 years old at the time and for the next 10 years or so, invested heavily in progressive rock albums of the seventies. With the advent of disco, then punk and new wave at the end of the seventies and into the 80's, instead of 'going with the times', I went backwards, assuming that the wonderous music that I had grown up with was never to be heard from again, unless of course, from those who had come before.

What a revelation then for a 40 year old, the discovery that prog was not dead and that the internet was the place to find it! My favorite music never died, it just left the airwaves and went into cyber-space and for me, 'Rights At Dawn' is where the 20 some odd years of lost time comes together.

For those of you who like your prog fresh, new and innovative, stop reading now. This album probably isn't for you. This is mid-seventies inspired prog with modern day production that blows me away every time I hear it! From first note to last, these guys reach the top level of intricacy and melody, with top notch musicianship and great vocals. The guitar and keyboard work are outstanding, the drumming is as good as any Yes or Genesis album and special mention goes out to Kristian Karl Hultgren, who transforms his bass into a lead instrument, that can be listenned to by itself, with great pleasure. There is just enough flute and mellotron added to this album to make it the perfect listen, for a 47 year old prog head, that was stuck in the 70's for way too long.

After the short introduction ( 47 seconds ) of Lucid, this album takes off and doesn't land until the final note of Lucid Dreams. In between, we're treated to music as good as the mid-seventies classics. In fact I dare say that, had this album been released in 1974, it would be considered a classic today. My favorite song is 'This Past Presence'. With light acoustic guitar, flute, piano, mellotron and soothing vocals to begin, it doesn't take long before a time change and short lead guitar and piano jam. Then we change tempo again and slow down, then we change again and then again..........well you get the point. Toward the end, when the mellotron really kick in, it's prog heaven. I purchased well over 80 albums this year and yes, this included what can be described as new and fresh progressive rock. However, when it's all said and done, this song and this album sits at the top of the heap, in a great year for progressive rock.

I guess maybe, I haven't gotten out of the seventies just yet.

5 out of 5 for me.

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