HUMAN TRAFFICKING

The previous effort entitled Gentry of this Canadian band still sounds very pleasant to me because of the wonderful early Marillion inspired atmospheres and the lush Mellotron sound. But the guitarplayer has left and that is one of the first facts I notice listening to Human Trafficking: although the guitar player did a decent job on keyboards, I miss the omnipresent Mellotron waves from Gentry, this was an extra dimension for me. The new album contains two long and two short tracks, the total running time is around 45 minutes, not very long for a CD because usually it's between 70 and 80 minutes. The two long compositions are simply structured but sound very tasteful, from dreamy to compelling and bombastic with frequent sensitive guitar soli, loaded with howling runs (obviously inpspired by Steve Rothery but also with hints from Gilmour and Latimer, they all prefer 'emotion' above 'scale-acrobatics'). Remarkable in the song Regrets is the more prominent role of the keyboards, especially the violin-Mellotron along fluent synthesizer flights. Just like the other long track, this song contains a very compelling final part with very emotional guitar work, goose bumps! The first short track sounds like Ice by Camel because of the warm combination of tender paino play and sensitive electric guitar but the Steve Rothery fans will also be delighted about this wonderful piece, what an emotion. The final song is Loving Child, it starts with acoustic rhythm-guitar and pleasant, a bit melancholic vocals, then a delicate colouring by a wonderful strings-sound, it ends with a fragile guitar solo, accompanied by soaring keyboards, quite laidback. Although I have missed the keyboard player, I conclude that this is a very beautiful CD, recommended to all neo-prog fans, especially to the early Marillion freaks!

To my regret, RED SAND did nothing to become my all-time favourite band with this album. Once they released brilliant masterpiece “Mirror of Insanity”, then recorded a very good (even astonishing) “Gentry” one, but this time they simply failed to please me. I thought I was just tired of so many Prog around, my ears were deaf to RED SAND’s third revelation and my heart just missed something…and I hoped that all will work out well. Hell no. Sadly RED SAND made just enjoyable album, devoid of both interesting lyrical and musical content. Two epics, pretty much the same in structure, with ripped MARILLION tunes (this time they decided not to write in their manner, they’ve simply stolen “Lavender” chord progression) and two shorter tracks (an instrumental and a cheesy pop-ballad). You may happen to like it if it’s your first RED SAND album, but you’d better start with aforementioned “Mirror of Insanity”, a paradise Musthave for early MARILLION aficionados.

Red Sand's third album named Human trafficking is a bit of a let down, IMO, I mean they did almost nothing to improve their sound, contrary they fall in some cliches that someimes here sounds very boring. Again only 4 pieces, 2 of them very long considered epics who brings nothing new under the sun and are construncted with elements taken from Marillion and from their previous albums aswell, but in places the atmosphere here is little , I don't know how to call it, is like they are tired to play anymore neo prog, realy. Something is missing on this album, not entirely bad of course, in fact is not a bad album, is less intrsting then the excellent previous release Gentry. Some synthesizer and mellotron are present here, but the album overall is an usual one, the ideas are usual. So, not a single tune is in front, all are at same level, 3 stars is best I can give, good but far from Gentry album.

Red Sand have been praised as the new Marillion wannabees and the fame of the band finally starts to hit a wordwide status.That did not mean that everhything worked really well for the Canadians with keyboardist Pierre Massicotte quiting after ''Gentry''.The result was Red Sand's leader Simon Caron to take over the keyboard duties besides the guitar work and the third album, dealing with human trafficking, was released independently in 2007.

Caron would follow again the succesful structure lines of ''Gentry'' in this new effort, two long tracks are complemented by a couple of shorter pieces.There is a certain tension by the band to reproduced some of the old MARLLION atmospheres in yet another album, making their development a bit static, however the music is again very strong, elaborate and atmospheric.Good thing is that singer Stephane "Steff" Dorval has eventually adapted a vocal expression completely suitable to Red Sand's emotional and sensitive musical background.As for the compositions, these are again very strong with a nostalgic 80's vibe, having PINK FLOYD as a secondary source of inspiration during some dramatic guitar solos.Caron have made no keyboard diet, despite being basically a guitarist, ''Human trafficking'' is cleverly balanced between grandiose synthesizers and melodic, electric guitars, deeping into the fundamentals of British Prog, while the two shorter cuts contain again some Mellotron bits.The result is satisfying to say the least, with lyrical passages surrounded by cinematic music along the atmospheres of Fish-era MARILLION, maintaining a theatrical attitude due to the changes between singing parts and narrations.Caron's melodies are certainly striking and memorable, making ''Human trafficking'' another beautiful Red Sand discographic entry.

Theatrical Neo Prog in the vein of old Marillion.You love the masters of 80's British Prog, you will fall in love with ''Human trafficking'' as well, no more or less.Strongly recommended...3.5 stars.