NIGHT DREAMS & WISHES

At last the new Modern-Rock Ensemble album has been released! I've been waiting for this one. I enjoyed the two main tracks on the previous album, "Touch the Mystery": "Meditations" and the title track. There are both excellent examples of composing for a symphony but using mostly rock instruments like guitar, keyboards, bass, saxophone, and percussion, and then adding some flute and some strings. The rest of the album included two short keyboard instrumentals, an old live recording from 1989, and a Russian lyric version of "Meditations". As an introduction to Modern-Rock Ensemble's music and the compositional (and unique vocal) abilities of Vladimir Goraschenko, not to forget the exquisite guitar playing of Max Velychko, "Touch the Mystery" was a great start. But I never felt it was a proper debut album. I always had the feeling that if Vladimir and company took the time to create a full- length album, it would be something grand!

And here we are at last. There was an extra tingle of excitement about this album because I heard that Vladimir had teamed up with Sean Timms of Southern Empire and Damanek for the production. Now keep in mind that I have only heard the whole album twice so far, listening to it on Bandcamp, and now I can't listen anymore for free until I purchase it. I am looking forward to having a hard copy on CD once the disc is released. But I feel excited enough about this album that I have to say something while I have a bit of time.

The opening track, "Intro - Night, Universe and Our Inner space", is quite serene and may seem like a slow start but should be considered more of an awakening. The album proceeds to take us on many adventures, bringing us gentle, symphonic passages as well as more exciting rock-fueled music. There are moments that might seem like ELP or The Enid and other times that feel much more modern, especially when there's a fretless bass solo or Max Velychko leads the way with his guitar playing. I've felt before that he's like Steve Vai but without the over-the-top showiness. He has the moves but works them with the music rather than riding over top the music.

An unexpected surprise is the "Dark Kingdom and the Evil King" three-parter. Things do indeed turn dark and there are some sinister and forbidding moments in the music as well as savagery and aggression but tempered in a symphonic manner. In other words, don't expect power metal or death metal. Still, we hear the sounds of clashing swords and roaring beasts, and spoken lines like, "We have them surrounded. Crush them!"

The tracks presented here are always unpredictable and full of pleasant surprises. "Insomnia" has the quirky Gentle Giant feel; "Childhood and School Days" might almost go Pink Floyd here and there but is actually it's own mini epic; and part three of "The Dark Kingdom and the Evil King" changes near the conclusion to a Medieval vocal performance. So many treats to crop up on this album!

I certainly feel that Vladimir has exercised a broad range of his music composition abilities, and with the help of many superb musicians, his ideas have been brought to life. I am also glad to hear that he has chosen to keep his deep vocals for any sung or spoken parts. I like that he has his own style of singing and doesn't sound like so many generic singers I've heard these days who are keeping up with a trend.

Check out this album on Bandcamp! It goes beyond what a lot of present day artists are doing musically.