BOOK OF THE DEAD

An old-fashioned concept album and a Pharaoh's vault of quality music, k2 was a welcome project from some of the best names in the Prog community. Book of the Dead is the baby of keyboardist/bassist Ken Jaquess and is based on the Egyptian (not Tibetan) death text - The Book of Coming Forth by Day - on how to navigate the plane of the afterlife, the "intermediate state", and boasts a daunting line up including guitarist Allan Holdsworth, Doug Sanborn on drums, some nice piano and Moog work from Ryo Okumoto, Peter Gabriel emulator Shaun Guerin doing a fine job singing, and Yvette Devereaux's tasty violin.

Book of the Dead may wield few new progressive ideas and is perhaps a bit green and downy-cheeked, but it is also a great-sounding record of completely sincere progressive rock. And that still has value, right? Taking us on a flight over the Nile down to Ta Shemau, across the Sahara to the Theban Necropolis and straight into the Valley of the Kings is the sprawling 'Chapter 1:Infinate Voyage', and the music reflects that desert journey with an impressive vision and great playing from all. The effect is quite like concept-era Genesis at times, and with Guerin's I-can't-not-sound-like-Peter Gabriel vocals, we hear remnants of what that band may have tossed aside. But one man's tossings are another's gold. Chapters 2 and 3, 'Mirror to the Spirits' and 'The Edge of Light' continue the grandeur and plenty of organ, synths, carefully honed solos, swelling production and many changes. Quite tasteful overall, sometimes like the more refined moments of U.K. with symphonetta lines, Okumoto's squealing Moog and Devereuax's fiddle. 'Aten', the 4th Chapter, is a mellow instrumental soundscape and Chapter 5, 'Cloak of Antiquity' finishes everything in papyrus and mummy wrappings. A strong three and a half stars. Good show.