PATCHWORK CACOPHONY

Ben Bell might be an unknown name in prog circles, but belive me he is one great keyboard player that worth to be discovered worldwide. Around 2007 he got the chance to play with Fusion Orchestra 2 on their debut Casting shadows from 2013 - a reincarnation of Fusion Orchestra (a good british band from early '70s) revived by Colin Dawson. Soon after he begun to work on his solo album and the first offer was out in 2014 named Patchwork cacophony. The album is quite good from start to finish, with nice shifting keyboards arrangements and pleasent yet nothing spectacular vocal parts. I can say that Patchwork cacophony is heavy keyboard driven prog yet quite melodic in many parts, combining symphonic prog with crossover prog, jazzy interplays, all done with taste. Lush arrangements and instrumental sections are far better then the vocals, if it was entirely instrumental I would give a higher rate. Anyway to me the second half of the album is better, meaning Dawn Light" suite covering almost 30 min of great playing and intresting instrumental melodic duels. A nice discovery for me after I've listen to Fusion Orchestra 2, Ben Bell worth to be more known in prog circles , his debut and contribution on Fusion Orchestra 2 is without doubt more then pleasent to my ears. 3.5 stars for sure. Nice intresting art work and booklet.