PICTURES FROM THE OTHER SIDE

Encouraged by the positive feedback regarding Cyan's debut, Rob Reed decided to move on with a second album.He was lucky enough to meet singer Nigel Voyle, formerly of the 80's act Just Good Friends and a candidate to replace Fish on Marillion, and pass him the lead vocal duties of the upcoming ''Pictures from the other side'' album.Moreover Reed introduced to the public Christina Booth on backing vocals (named Christina Murphy at the time), the future frontwoman of Magenta, and collaborated with Ezra's guitarist Andy Edwards in a couple of tracks.Reed was always a great composer and, with so much load of his shoulders, he wrote the material of the new album in just three months, eventually released a year after Cyan's debut, again on the SI label.

Another very solid release of British Neo Prog, recalling the works of PENDRAGON, LANDMARQ and SHADOWLAND, is the result of Reed's efforts.The new singer has a very good, clear and theatrical voice, definitely an improvement over Reed's questionable ability to sing, while Booth's angelic voice is somewhat hidden by her limited role on background voices.Musically the album consists of eight, mostly long compositions (two of them exceed the 12-min. mark), filled with lyrical pomposity, melodic textures and symphonic leanings, although some slight poppy flavors are also present in the shorter tracks.Heavy use of synthesizers with both dreamy and more upfront deliveries along with some lovely guitar lines characterize the song structures, moving from melancholic, laid-back soundscapes to cheerful choruses and from dramatic vocal moments to bombastic, orchestral moves.There is plenty of room for extended instrumental themes, usually in a typical 80's symphonic mode, and the balance between accesible and more demanding parts is well kept throughout the release.A few stand-out tracks are present as well, like the pompous and melodramatic ''Solitary angel'', the impressive ''All around the world'', featuring Ann Morgan's operatic vocals and standing somewhere between CAMEL and PINK FLOYD, and the pretty great 14-min. opus ''Nosferatu'' with its grandiose atmosphere, reminiscent of ARENA.

I can tell you one thing: It is very sad to see Reed, one of most prolific composers of modern British Prog, remaining so under-the-radar during the 90's.His works with Cyan are pretty great, as this album is.An emblimatic sound of Neo/Symphonic Prog awaits all listeners eager to purchase this release.Strongly recommended...3.5 stars.