COMBINATION HEAD

If you ever find out the past on the music scene of COMBINATION HEAD's leader/keyboardist Paul Birchall,you will propably skip this article.Birchall has collaborated with Cher,Geri Halliwell and M People among others,but surprisingly his influences come from 70's progressive rock keyboardists: KEITH EMERSON, EDDIE JOBSON, PETER BARDENS etc.!For this project he is accompanied by guitarist/bassist Keith Ashcroft and drummer Paul Burgess,who has worked with 10CC,Jethro Tull and CAMEL.Their first album carried the name of the trio as a title,released on S.A.M. Records in 2006.

I can tell you,this album is million miles far from Birchall's past works.This is 100% melodic instrumental progressive rock with symphonic and Fusion touches with influences coming from the afore-mentioned keyboardists as well as CAMEL,U.K.,THE FLOWER KINGS, SPOCK'S BEARD and GENESIS,while adding some strong NIACIN echoes here and there won't be far from reality.This is obviously much of a keyboard-driven album with Birchall prooving to be a fantastic keyboardist,working his way through heavy yet inspiring organ passages,classical piano moments,obscure synth parts (I'm reminded of EDDIE JOBSON's style on U.K. releases here) and deep chaotic electronics!This is one of the finest keyboard works I've heard lately!Ashcroft is also a pure power for the band,rising the sound to a higher level with his strong and dynamic solos,while he also uses his smoother style of playing on the more atmospheric and calmer instrumental passages,not unlike ANDY LATIMER.Burgess is just the right piece to end the puzzle:strong,steady and confident drumming all the way.All non-progheads out there should listen to this work and finally get in touch with what good progressive rock is all-about.For the prog community,no comments:This is almost a must- have release!