HEAD FOR THE MOON

Having seen the band playing live on a number of occasions, I was intrigued as to how they would sound in the studio. The recent addition of an extra guitarist had certainly beefed up the band's live act and so hopes were high. The album clearly draws influences from a wide variety of prog genres aswell as from the various band members own past, with members at various times featuring in Grace, Framework and Final Conflict. It could be argued that too many influences can create confusion, but clearly these guys have picked the bits that work for them and have created a thoroughly enjoyable and highly competent album. There is something on the album to tick most prog lovers boxes. The quirky keyboards of Friend, the catchy hooks of Thunder and Time Of Your Life, the thoughtful Secret Garden and modern prog of All American Alien. The album comes across as a stepping stone from their last album, Rebirth: The Big Machine, and shows plenty of promise for bigger and better things in the future. If you get the opportunity, catch the band live as the songs really come alive on stage.

With their first real teamwork yet to be released, Mark Price's High Spy decided to throw in the market several live releases and even a couple of DVD's to keep their fan base updated around the upcoming material.More than 5 live CD's and video footages were released between 2007 and 2008, while the group had a refreshed line-up with Mark Stokes as a second guitarist and new drummer Arny Wheatley in the place of Arran Powell.Their new work ''Head for the moon'' was eventually self-released in 2009.

Ok, this group has some history along the lines of early-80's British Prog with experienced members on the crew and ''Head for the moon'' is the best proof for the fact.This is old-fashioned British Neo Prog, like if it was recorded in early-80's, with Price being the main contributor, but having also interesting guitar parts in the process.The tracks are full of nervous synthesizer solos and floating keyboard textures akin to early MARILLLION and the guitar runs are also close to the Scottish masters as well as ABEL GANZ with quite a DAVID GLMOUR-ish touch in the more sensitive solos.This albums surely revives the dark Prog years, the silver period of the genre, blending the powerful, raw synth explosions of the 70's British groups with a slightly poppy flavor in some catchy overtones or the accesible choruses.But the music can get really bombastic at moments, leaving the pleasant and optimistic tunes for sharp, keyboard-based textures, backed up by strong guitar lines and solos.Good thing is the compositions are pretty well-crafted with plenty of enjoyable parts, while the shadow of 70's Prog covers the whole work.

Things are pretty clear.If you love early MARILLION, IQ, PALLAS, TWELFTH NIGHT, ABEL GANZ and PENDRAGON, this work is 100% sure to please you.The great keyboard work and a fair dose of beautiful melodies are among the highlights of a recommended, overlooked album.

High Spy from UK is quite an obscure neo prog band that fail to make it big in prog circles, despite the good music offered. Head for the moon is a studio album released in 2009 after some live releases puted on market by the band. I ike what I've heared here, is the type of neo prog I like constantly to listen, even the production and overall sound is not crystal clear. Nice passages from more up tempo dominated by guitars dueling with keybords to more calmer almost Floydian in aproach this release is a winner in my book. Similaritis are with Final Conflict another lesser known neo prog act, and also they remind me a lot with Mangrathea also from UK. The music is as other reviewers observed , old fasion, vintage, sometimes sounded like in 80s. The arrangements are powerfull, the guitar is present all over, the keyboards same, there are long instrumental sections very similar with Comedy of Errors in apraoch. All in all fairly decent towards great.. Quite unnoticed band, they released a new album few months ago. 3.5 stars for sure, very nice, catchy neo prog.

There was a step change between the first two albums, as the band had been gigging hard and by now knew what they wanted to achieve, and their 2009 album was a strong statement. The production is far sharper than the debut, and the album commences with dramatic keyboards, and when the rest of the band kick in it is as if the Nineties scene has never gone away as this is soaring neo prog in the vein of Pallas. The two Marks vie for dominance (the keyboards win, sometimes), while the rhythm section is strong, and Ade shows he is a powerful vocalist. The album contains plenty of keyboard fills, where Mark Price moves from providing layers of keyboard curtains in to something far more dynamic, while Mark Stokes has a clean guitar sound. The use of twin guitars does also lead the ears to sometimes compare some sections to Final Conflict, but that really isn't a surprise.

If the debut felt as if the band were trying to find their feet and make something available, this is much more a band knowing what they wanted to achieve, and the confidence is there for everyone to hear. The songs are commercial, yet not mainstream, so they are easy to listen to and enjoy without feeling that the band was deliberately aiming for a certain audience but instead were doing exactly what they wanted. Ballads such as "Just In Time" give way to harmonised numbers like "Joy Peace Love" which one can easily imagine going down a storm at gigs with catchy choruses and great hooks. This is the type of fun album which was coming from the likes of Abel Ganz and Comedy of Errors back in the day, and I am pleased I finally heard it.