CROSSING THE LINE

Andrew Roussak , this unfairly little known keyboard player released his forth solo album in 2021 named Crossing the line. I known his previous 3 works, debut from 2008 No trespassing who was more then solid, follow the piano album Blue intermezzo in 2010 and third Storm warning, all 3 were more then great to my ears. In between of his first album and third one he was the keyboard player of german progressive metal band Dorian Opera who released 2 albums . I am really glad that the new album is keeping the same attitude as the debut and previous one, solid compositions, keyboard driven progressive rock, almost all album is instrumental, combining symphonic parts with jazz/classical music passages, his style is very much in Rick Wakeman direction, a thing that I like a lot, and not in ELP direction.

There is as on previous albums pompous and bombastic orchestrations with very nice keyboards, sometimes he almost gone progressive metal, but without being a prog metal in the end. He explores almost everything is to be heared in prog rock zone, changes in tempo, lots of synth solos, nice breaks and moods, elaborated passages, and all is done by Andrew himself, including vocal parts.

Andrew's technique is quite impressive, he handle very well all keyboards, piano, synth with amazing ease, the virtuosic parts are all over the album. He alternates very well the neo prog sound with symphonic orchestrations, most of the time in 70's style prog, as I said very much in Rick Wakeman direction, a thing that I like for sure. Even the keyboards are the center of the sound , the guitar aswell has plenty of memorable parts. Forte pieces are opening Invisible Killer or the title track.

All in all, a fairly good album, I like what I've heard here and his music is needing a far more recognition, in same level with his first release No trespassing (not counting blue intermezzo here) or Storm warning, specially overall sound has that specific seventies-style keyboard-led albums. 3.5 stars for sure, a nice one. Nice art work aswell

I first came across multi-instrumentalist Andrew when he was keyboard player with Dorian Opera, and recall reviewing his solo debut album all the way back in 2008. This is his third since then and although I did miss 2010's 'Blue Intermezzo' I did hear 2019's 'Storm Warning', but while that had some guests, we are now back to Andrew doing everything himself. 13 years is a long time in anyone's life, and when one is an active musician many changes can take place, and I am amazed at just how far Andrew has moved since the debut. There are seven pieces, two of which are instrumental (one of which is an adaption of a classical piece, which is something he had done previously), and as before he has been influenced by two keyboard players, namely Rick Wakeman and Keith Emerson.

It is in the lighter keyboard sections and piano usage where he comes across as the former, and the more bombastic where he comes across as the latter, but what also puts this ahead of his other works is the way the vocals and rock elements all come together. I have been critical of his singing in the past, but here it works perfectly with the music, which at times feels like a cross between 3 and Rick Wakeman's work with his rock band. I have been playing this album far more than I normally would when reviewing, and find I enjoy it more each time I listen to it. It is modern sounding, almost commercial at times, bringing in elements which are reminiscent of the 90's American prog scene while combining it with melodic rock and then throwing in some wonderful old-fashioned stylings. Less symphonic prog than crossover, or possibly even Neo, there is a lot on here to enjoy and for my ears is certainly the best album I have heard of his to date. His name may not be well known even with prog circles but this is a release which should change that.