BROKEN BRANCHES

RELAYER is an American band starting in the 90's with three childhood friends Tom Burke, Tim LaRoi and John Sahagian, accompanied by Bill Kiser on drums; modern melodic music tinged with pop-rock with progressive digressions; a 6th album that plunges into the universal atmosphere of rock, AOR, Toto, Rush, a bit of Marillion and Barclay James Harvest.

"Paradigm" begins rock where the imprint of Peter Gabriel and the Who can appear, an acoustic riff and a hovering break, the only track where you could find Yes in it. "Hear Me Out" bass forward, the Alan Parsons Project comes to mind for a moment, it's melodic, heady chorus, the solo is worth it and the vocals can bring you back to "Love Is All". "Turnaround" with a bit of the XTC, the avant-garde Beatles and a cross with the Electric Light Orchestra which flirted with the prog sound, energetic pop track in the carefree that goes on for a bit. "Protectors" and a mid-tempo AOR ballad which deploys a pleasurable mid-term drawer, spleen and reverberating melancholy, a Barclay James Harvest tune for the chorus. "Something's Changed" with hints of Rush, Kansas, the vocals denote other tracks on an AOR track, a bit of old Queen, a bit of Lou Reed too. "Mouse in the Mill" and Roger Waters bass in the distance, Chris Rea's tune, bluesy tune, there is latency with a well- developed guitar variation, one of the most worked songs in my opinion .

"Ghost" and a soft romantic ballad like a wave that ends with time, the time to bring "Halfway Home" and the long awaited title; an evolving title, a long dreamlike crescendo which leaves on a gliding drift, the title that makes me change my mind favorably. "Solstice Suite" with an orchestral complementing the progressive sensation, I think of a dantesque intro of the Supertramps then it vibrates, it grooves, like a little of the Genesis, title which puts you on the alert. "Way Too Long" extends that feeling of a 'Breakfast in America' with piano and vintage keyboard in the same vein; the melody reminds me of the Styxes all magnified by an aggressive forward bass making you forget the 70 sound; more sensitivity, more memory. "Twilight" for the final ballad and a solo to land the moon.

RELAYER is not an ersatz Yes, we will understand; these friends distill fresh sounds mixing vintage 70's with more modern melodic sound; its sin will come from titles that were a bit going everywhere at the beginning, closer to an AOR than a prog-album; these are the latest more distinctive titles that make you want to dive back into this timeless musical corridor.