OCTOBER PROJECT

This is an okay album I suppose, but it doesn't qualify as progressive music at all, and really doesn't qualify as folk either. I've read several reviews of this album and band that have placed them closer to nineties new age, adult contemporary, or even to Broadway musical works. All these seem to fit their sound, but folk doesn't. Sony was apparently impressed enough with them to ink a multi- record deal in 1993, but dropped them after their sophomore release in 1996.

The music itself is decent enough, with notably strong vocals from the contralto Mary Fahl, who has since gone on to a solo classical and off-Broadway singing and acting career. Her most interesting claim to fame is a solo release of her own 'interpretation' of Dark Side of the Moon, a Nightwish-like affair but with a lot more electronica and not quite as good of instrumental musicianship (although admittedly I say this having only heard a few samples off the web - the album itself is a bit difficult to locate). She's got a hell of a voice though.

The tracks on this October Project debut are all composed by bandleader and keyboardist Emil Adler, and the lyrics come from his wife Julie Flanders, who does not appear on the album itself except to play finger cymbals on one track ("Return to Me"). The lyrical themes are a mix of abstract poetry, introspection, and vaguely mystical references. Pretty much run-of-the-mill new age stuff for the most part. The music consists of a couple of digital keyboards, sometimes piano, very muted guitar, and drum tracks. Again, nothing worth getting excited about, and the emphasis is clearly on Fahl's vocals and Flanders' lyrics.

It's worth noting that the producer of this album was Glenn Rosenstein, also know for his work with such pop-music acts as Madonna, U2, and Jars of Clay, as well as for a number of Grammys and Emmys for film and television scores. His pedigree is quite evident in the slick production and sanitized sound of this album.

The individual tracks really aren't worth delving into, mostly since this album and band have been badly mis-categorized on this web site. A decent enough record, but not the kind of thing most progressive music fans are looking for. If you are a Mostly Autumn or Nightwish fan, or are into Hollywood-tinged adult contemporary you might like this record. Otherwise I'd recommend passing. Fortunately this one only set me back $8 U.S. out of the bargain bin. Two stars.

peace

1993. No internet for rapidly spreading the word about new prog groups. Not that many new prog groups anyway, especially in the Anglophone world. In this underground environment, bands that might appeal to progressive music fans were considered fair game, and OCTOBER PROJECT was a name that kept coming up for the beautiful voice of Mary Fahl and the lavish sounding production in spite of low budgets.

October Project was compared to Renaissance, and Fahl's voice does bear comparison to Jane Relf but not Annie Haslam. Notwithstanding short track lengths, having her voice multi-tracked as on "Take me as I am", and having a group member who did nothing but write lyrics are other points of valid comparison, especially to the "Azure D'Or" era. I'm just not sure how much any of this resonates in 2009, when so much more bona fide prog is available and widely discussed, and bands can release on their own labels. Nonetheless I was there and everyone I knew was into this group, or perhaps I knew everyone who was into this group, which might explain their rapid disappearance.

For me, 4 tracks make this album worth having - "Ariel", "A Lonely Voice", "Wall of Silence", and "Paths of Desire". Apart from the closing track, everything else is decent, if at times reminiscent of tired 1980s pop a la BRYAN FERRY. While the sound does include folk elements, I would more classify October Project as crossover or prog related.

If you are into music of the above description, some sweeping heartwarming melodies, suffusing string synthesizers, romantic lyrics just to the good side of trite, and tightly knit songs, make this your next project.