JABBERWOCKY

Although I 'm not often keen on this sort of rock opera, I was curious to discover this combined work from Nolan/Wakeman. Especially that I really like Clive's work within "Arena" and "Pendragon" and to a lesser extent "Shadowland".

Some friends / family are also helping here. Father Wakeman (yes, Rick) as well as Ian Salmon (bass player of "Arena" and "Shadowland"), Peter Gee (Pendragon). The music displayed here ranges more to the symphonic vein (in which it was previously featured on PA) than neo-prog although several musical genres are mixed here.

Bombastic during the "Overture", almost funky/jazzy during "Coming To Town" this album is consistent at least in the quality of the musicians. But this is just a normal thing IMO. Professionals just need to be at this level. Even Rick is truly credible in his narrator role. I also appreciate the vocal work from "Tracy Hitchings" in most of her parts.

The only minus point (but this often takes place with such a work) is that it sounds pompous at several occasions ("The Forest" for instance). Same comment about "Shadows" during which the ELP influence is obvious.

If you happen to be a keys freak, there are real good parts in here. Being synth or just piano. You should be delighted. But maybe that you would feel (at least I do), that in terms of compositions, the whole sounds a little weaker.

Anyway, "Enlightment" shines here; mostly thanks to a great . guitar solo! Not to mention the catchy melody and a sustained rhythm. My fave from this album but as in lots of concept album there are few standout tracks. It is more a whole than individual songs that are making the album grandiose or not.

In this case, I would just speak about a good album. So: three stars.