MAREK ARNOLD'S ARTROCK PROJECT

The 2023 full-length debut from Marek Arnold contained not only the songs from the first two EPs, but the complete "Berlin 2049" suite plus a few songs from his time with Toxic Smile. Although Marek is a keyboard player (and saxophonist) he somehow always knows what is required from guitar for a song to sound really good and works hard to ensure the songs are crafted and arranged in a manner which ensures they get their time to shine. The only other keyboard player I can think of who has this ability is Derek Sherinian, and I had to smile when I realised, he provides a solo on one of the songs.

This may be a full-blown project as opposed to a band, with numerous performers (I think around 50 but I lost count) but somehow this always feels like a band. Marek has long been in demand in multiple bands, and this clearly demonstrates his skill not only in composing but the way he arranges the music so there is continuity even though there are multiple players involved. This is Neo to the max with keyboards and guitars joining together to ensure people remember the second part of "Prog Rock" is "Rock", but there is always a very commercial crossover feel to the music so it is very easy to get inside and enjoy the first time of playing, even if it is quite different in approach and not as bombastic or egotistical as some. There is a perfect place for solos to enhance the songs, but never to take them over, and this certainly never sounds as if Marek had to sweat over multiple years to combine all the music files he had been sent to make this a glorious whole. It never comes across as patchwork but instead is an album where the listener soon forgets how it was created and instead concentrates on the songs.

We kick off with the song which was originally the opener on the debut Toxic Smile album in 2000, "Airang" which here has been given a slightly different title, and we get both a small "Preview" and small "Review". Marek is joined on this by bassist Robert Brenner who played on the original, plus a host of guests including the mighty Marco Minnemann and it is taken to new levels with driving guitars, great vocals and a band determined to do justice to the 12 minutes plus number. This is followed by "Stay", a song which I believe to be perfect and the one I have played more than any other over the years. Malanie Mau is a wonderful singer (check out her albums with Martin Schnella, who is also playing here) and this is the song where Marek really reached out to his friends. I am not going to name everyone involved, but anything which includes Gary Chandler is always going to be worthwhile. We get multiple guitar solos and duels, a sax solo cutting through, a key change, harmony vocals to die for, who could wish for more?

There is a lightness and joy throughout this album, and a knack for hooks which takes it away from normal Neo Prog (whatever that is) and into realms more closely related to melodic rock and pop (back when it was a genre people enjoyed as opposed to being sheep drawn into the banality of it all). Marek is not afraid to multi-layer his saxophones if that is what is needed or stand back and let the guitars take the lead while he waits for the right time for the drums to come crashing in and keyboards take control while the vocals soar above them all. This is a delight from beginning to end.