LOVER'S END

Lover's End (Another Brilliant Moon Safari Masterpiece): "One man's meat is another man's poison." In regards to the Lover's End release by Moon Safari (including the recent addition of the new epic Lover's End III) I offer this warning. For those progressive rockers who prefer their music to sound like the grinding of gears and the pounding of massive machines, without a melody in sight, Lover's End is not for you.

On the other hand, if you are a progressive rocker who delights in the beautiful and melodic moments from the music of Yes, Genesis, Camel, Renaissance (and bands of this ilk) you will love and adore Moon Safari and Lover's End.

In fact, with the recent addition of Lover's End Part 3 (Skelleftea Serenade) added to the original Lover's End CD, Moon Safari have now cemented their position, for me, in the family of the great symphonic progressive rock bands of all time.

Lover's End comes on the heels of Blomjud, a true masterpiece and the best progressive rock CD made, in my opinion, for several years. Lover's End presents a similar musical experience in comparison to Blomjud, but with a different lyrical approach.

Musically, both albums are superb and attain an equally exalted stature in my musical world. Blomjud may seem initially to be more progressive in its approach, but Lover's End is more subtle, understated and controlled. If one does not listen very carefully to Lover's End, the album may seem more "popish" than progressive. Many careful listenings reveal the magic under the "hood."

Moon Safari is essentially creating a new progressive rock genre. The genre could be called "hopeless romantic, symphonic, choral pop-prog." I can't get enough of it! It's like the Four Seasons, the Association and the Beatles melding with Yes and Camel. My goodness, what a mix!

With Lover's End, Moon Safari have established themselves as the "World's Best Heart Breakers." Where Blomjud is philosophically upbeat, joyful and amazingly hopeful; Lover's End is exactly what its title indicates, the END of LOVE for some desperate soul.

Besides the lyrics, then, what makes Lover's End and Moon Safari music, in general, so wonderful? In a nut shell, Moon Safari are able to blend the very best of soft rock and pop music with the musically sensibilities of the symphonic progressive rock masters. The musicianship is impeccable, the vocals are the best ever and the melodies are absolutely beautiful. The songs are layered with musical and vocal arrangements that are like a "Where's Waldo" picture puzzle (this is especially true for the pedal steel guitar and for the astounding vocal arrangements).

Lover's End is that unique musical experience wherein you love the CD after the first listen and yet it continues to have tremendous staying power. After listening to the album many, many times, I continue to want to hear it again and again. The music is completely addicting! If a CD I listen to continues to thrill me after dozens of spins, it is progressive rock to me. No pop or AOR music has this kind of staying power.

The key elements of Lover's End that keep me returning for more and more are: (1) Phenomenal, yet controlled musicianship. (2) The world's best rock vocal arrangements and delivery, ever, and by a long shot!!!! (3) Incredibly beautiful melodies. They either bring tears to my eyes or hope to my heart! (4) Thoughtful and expressive lyrics, as described above. (5) A fresh and nymph like quality to the music that makes it hard to categorize and also nearly makes me forget Jon Anderson's separation from Yes. Once again, a new genre is appearing before our eyes.

Finally, I can say that I now look forward as much to hearing Moon Safari as I do Yes or vintage Genesis, Gentle Giant, etc. With Lover's End (along with the inclusion of the new epic Skelleftea Serenade) we have a CD that has done the near impossible; it has more than lived up to the absolutely unrealistic expectations Moon Safari fan's had for it. Blomjud came out of nowhere for me and then proceeded to knock my socks off! Lover's End had the Blomjud legacy to live up to and has done so beyond my fondest hopes. I never thought at the tender age of 58 that I would be so giddy for a new band and their new offering. Thank you Moon Safari for the pure joy of it all.