IN THE LEFT LANE

No Restraints hailed from Oklahoma and were more or less a dream-come-true project by keyboardist, singer and composer Mark Smith.They released an independent CD in 2007 called ''In the left lane'', featuring also Starla Robinson on tenor sax, Mitch Parker on bass, Jon Terry on guitar, Christina Terry and Rachel Cain on backing vocals, Jennica McCarter on violin and AKA on drums.

Pretty weird stuff by these Americans, they seem to draw influences from the solo works of PETER GABRIEL and VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR with the same comfort, adding a few modern touches and coming up with an album inspired by Classical Music, Jazz, Avant Garde and Art Rock.Smith's Classical piano lines, his pretty dark-sounding keyboards with the organ in evidence and the multiple sax interventions are the guiding forces of the album, which alternates between GABRIEL-esque lyrical parts and intense instrumental lines.There are even some touches of E.L.P. in some keyboard parts, but there are also some evident flaws, for example the general vocal work is not that good or there is a feeling that some of the instruments are sampled.KARDA ESTRA is another act to come in mind during this production, the sporadic female choirs and the display of laid-back, cinematic orchestrations with a Classical edge being the main reason.''In the left lane'' is definitely an all-over-the-place album, it's just not that efficient in all the presented cuts.The instrumental work could have been stunning with a more professional sound, the meld of organ and sax produce excellent textures with a slight vintage color in a succesfful attempt to throw Classical, Jazz and Rock hints in the same plate.

Dark-styled Prog Rock with some E.L.P., PETER GABRIEL and VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR vibes.Nice sax and organ washes and impressive instrumental themes, despite the short length of the tracks and some thin recording quality.Recommended.