THE CORNER OF MY ROOM

Am surprised that this album has not been reviewed yet. Andy Tillison and PO90 started this debut in the nineties when new prog bands were emerging the music industry. The reason I got this CD was due to my frequent visit to Cyclop website and email contact with Malcolm Parker dated back in 1998. I was stimulated to order the CD because it was labeled as a band that performs the music in the vein of Van Der Graaf Generator.

Yes, I can reconfirm that this album is heavily influenced by VdGG. But, please do not expect that it sounds similar with VdGG because this album is composed in a much modern way when computer and digital technology were surrounding us and they changed the way musicians compose their music. If you are familiar with the seventies prog bands, this album blends the elements of Van der Graaf Generator in terms of composition and structures with elements of Ian Anderson's (of Jethro Tull) music, packaged in modern recording technology with sampling, sequencing and programming. In fact, the vocal quality of Andy Tillison is very similar with ian Anderson. The album also comprises space psychedelic elements.

The opening track "The Third Person" is an excellent song with a combination of fast tempo keyboard work, organ and electric drumming and powerful vocal of Andy Tillison, performed in techno fashion. I would say that this kind of music is something different that I have always heard from legendary band Van Der Graaf Generator. The fourth track "Samba in E (Re: Person I know)" is a nice mellow track. The album also features Guy Manning, Hugh Banton to perform an epic bonus track "A Gap in the Night" plus a tribute to the Nice "The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack".

Overall, this is a good album even though it's not essential. However, if you venture into The Tangent (where it was supposed to be Andy Tillison's solo album) music, owning this CD is recommended to trace back how it was like before The Tangent. I have not visited Andy's website but from the name of the bands he always use, I presume that he likes trigonometry or algebra very much. Look at the name: "parallel or ninety degrees", "the tangent". Maybe if he will have any chace to form a project in the future he will name it "the SINUS". Maybe .. Keep on proggin' ..!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW