SOLAR POWER

A talented group of musicians whose songs can be quite proggy and sophisticated but often tend toward simple and syrupy--especially when vocals are involved. For example, while the opening song, an instrumental entitled "The Voyage" (5:58) (9/10) remains polished and sophisticated--very much an eclectic- or fusion-type of prog song--very much like a FROM.UZ or KOTEBEL song--the second song, "Metamorphoses" (3:42) (7/10) revolves around a very simple (and strangely recorded/effected) vocal with some very simply constructed support music--until the ending instrumental jam. Also, there is something about the recording/engineering of Lost World Band's albums that seems to feel unpolished or home-made. For example--especially around the mix of the differently effected individual instruments. (I find myself especially bothered by the recording effects used for the vocals and the internally microphoned 'acoustic' guitars.) This could be a masterpiece of progressive rock music were it not for a few recording and qualitative inconsistencies. Granted, these may be entirely personal, but I'm wondering if others will find such poppy songs as "Facing The Rain" (3:56) (7/10), "Nothing" (3:13) (8/10) and "Your Name" (4:04) (6/10) a bit too cheezy and less than up to the standards of the other instrumental songs.

Favorite songs: the Fripp-sounding guitar and 70s RETURN TO FOREVER-sounding, "Detached" (3:42) (except for the 'acoustic' guitar) (9/10); the COPELAND-ish "At The Waterfront" (3:09) (9/10) with its excellent interplay between violin and piano; "The Voyage," and; "Swept Off" (4:35) (8/10).

A 3.5 star effort rated up for the excellent instrumental work--especially violin and keyboards.