UNIVERSE AT LARGE

Having listened to Progressive Rock and all its subsidies since the very start (Late sixties through today) , and carefully studying and considering the depth of content and execution in this work, I heartily enjoy and recommend this CD. The attention to detail and musicianship is really top notch. Is that Steve Howe on the opening track solo or are my ears deceiving me........Some really strong vocal content "Freedom Flier" and hot, Bozzio meets Bruford esque drumming throughout. A long waffling guitar journey on Blue Sky that reminds me of F.Z. And a segment during Skydiving that will make Holdsworth fans dote with admiration, doubled on mallets....Whoooo. .Each song is like an entire movie condensed into a time warp of imagery and sound scape that engulfs and engages imagination. I hear traces of their influences and collaborators personalities showing up here and there but nothing too distracting or derivative as to lock them into a comparison, although one assumes that if Yes, Gentle Giant, U.K., Asia, King Crimson, Genesis, Pink Floyd, is in your listening bag, you will find a lot to like here in this rather "Large Universe" Buy it and play it loud! I cant wait to hear CD2 and see this band on tour...................With some of their collaborators guesting or Cameos..