DISTANT DAYS

Although Lee first came to prominence with the release of his second solo album 'View From The Bridge' in 2004, he is probably best known by many as being bassist with Galahad between 2005 and 2009, playing on 'Empires Never Last' and the live 'Resonance' DVD as well as numerous gigs. He released 'Idle Noise' with Steve Kingman in 2008, then followed that with 'Black and White' in 2009, since when he has been performing live as well as working with other artists. But after a gap of five years he is now back with his fourth solo release, 'Distant Days'. On this he is joined by Gerald Mulligan (Credo) on drums, and other members of his core live band Chris Harrison on guitars, Alistair Begg on bass/Chapman Stick and Rob Arnold on keyboards. Jon Barry and Simon Nixon added their guitar talents and Lee was delighted to welcome Robin Armstrong (Cosmograf) on acoustic guitar and Dave Phillips on backing vocals while he also had numerous other guests including Karl Groom (Threshold/Shadowland), Dec Burke (Darwin's Radio/Frost*/Brave New Sky/Solo), Marc Atkinson (Riversea/Nine Stones Close/Mandalaband/Solo), John Young (The John Young Band/Lifesigns) and Steve Thorne (Solo)

This is one of those albums where the writer wants the listener to really pay attention to the lyrics, which here deal with topics such as childhood, the oppression of Government authority and the cause of the recent global recession. As Lee says, "Some of the lyrics may sound heavy going, but I wanted to cover subjects that everyone could relate to, especially here in the UK. Recently, we have had a lot of scrutiny of our Government's behaviour and how it goes about governing us. I also take a look at the financial institutions that are also largely to blame for the recession we're just trying to sort out. But rest assured, there's happy stuff in there too!"

It kicks off with a mighty bang with the commercial prog metal of "Closing The Door", which mixes tempos and moods with plenty of strong guitars and swirling keyboards. In many ways this is a great opener as not only does it set a mood and a level of expectation, it also showcases many of Lee's ideas as although it is prog metal, there are times when it is strongly neo, while there is also room for a much more reflective element even though that can be tempered by a kick ass guitar solo. The use of different singers works well, and isn't the distraction that it can sometimes be, just because they all fit in so strongly together and there is always very much a band feel and direction as opposed to a 'just' a project.

One band that I kept being reminded of at different times when playing this was Asia, as not only are the harmonies spot on but there are loads of great hooks and the production is second to none. This just doesn't feel like an underground release on the artist's own label, but rather something that has had some serious money and time put into it. Closing number "Tomorrow Will Be Yesterday" is one of the two epics, and is the longest at fifteen minutes, starting with some beautifully reflective and delicate piano, but it soon becomes something that is far more bombastic and with real presence, although the piano is never too far away.

Overall this is a real delight, and I only hope that it isn't five years until the next one. For more details visit www.leeabraham.co.uk

The career of guitar-playing multi-instrumentalist Lee Abraham begins in 2003 with the release of his first solo album, "Pictures In The Hall". Two years later, he brings forth another album titled "View From The Bridge". In 2005, Abraham joins the neo-prog band Galahad as a bassist and two years after that, he impresses with his contributions to the magnificent album "Empires Never Last". In the subsequent years, Abraham's focus shifts almost entirely to his solo career, culminating in the release of his fourth album, "Distant Days", in 2014. It was during this phase of his career that everything seemed to be going exceptionally well, with the icing on the cake being his invitation in 2017 to become Galahad's new guitarist. Since then, he has released several wonderful albums with Galahad while continuing his solo work. How are you doing, Mr. Abraham?

Abraham's music showcases a passionate blend of heavy prog, AOR, classic rock and prog metal, characterized by strong melodies, dazzling solos and smooth tempo and mood changes. Particularly on "Distant Days", Abraham demonstrates himself to be an unselfish musician, using the list of guest musicians not only for his own benefit but also to allow them to shine. For example, the fiery opening track, Closing The Door, passionately sung by Dec Burke, features an intense guitar solo by Karl Groom. Despite having the opportunity to create a magnificent moment himself, Abraham lets the Threshold guitarist take this prog metal song to its deserving heights. The album is filled with well-placed cameos like this.

Abraham also exhibits strategic prowess when it comes to vocals, placing the right people in the right places. With names like Marc Atkinson, Steve Thorne, John Young and the aforementioned Dec Burke in his address book, there is no room for disappointment and it doesn't happen. Quality is guaranteed when these gentlemen start singing. With the ballad-like title track, Abraham proves vocally equal to his guests. His warm voice fits beautifully with the melancholic aura of the track. The guitar solo in this song is skillfully performed by Lee Abraham himself. It all comes together splendidly thanks to the well-timed drumming of Gerald Mulligan. His beats are priceless, which is why Abraham has included him in every song. His partner Alistair Begg also gets the opportunity to showcase his full range of instruments, including the Chapman Stick, fretted and fretless bass guitar.

One of the tracks that appeals to me the most is The Flame and I say this knowing that the epic gems of the album are yet to unfold. The Flame is a delightful song sung by John Young (Lifesigns) and features infectious guitar playing by Abraham and John Barry. The song is embellished with extensive harmonies throughout, greatly enhancing its exuberance. Following that, Abraham delivers exactly what the album needs with Misguided, an instrumental piece. The strength of this track lies in its sparkle rather than flashiness, making it a showcase in itself.

And then, the first epic unfolds. Corridors Of Power is a magnificent tour de force that opens with grandeur before Rob Arnold's piano and Marc Atkinson's distinctive voice bring it to a serene state. The song swells more and more, displaying a tingling blend of emo-prog and heavy guitar rock. It begs for more and more is indeed granted. However, before that, you need to savor the captivating eight-minute track Walk Away, which wouldn't have been out of place on his 2017 album "Colours". On "Distant Days", it also serves its purpose as an appetizer for what's to come.

Tomorrow Will Be Yesterday is a blissful prog metal feast that transports you away from the world for fifteen minutes. The Porcupine Tree-like atmosphere takes you through solemn and captivating landscapes where bombast regularly emerges and the keys create a haunting tension. Steve Thorne provides vocals for the track and he does so excellently with his refined expression. It's a beautiful conclusion that ends with an impressive display of rhythmic prog.

Hats off.

Orginally posted on www.progenrock.com