DREAMS, MYTHS AND MACHINES

A lineup of prog veterans who began their activity in the UK in the late 1970s but then dropped from the music scene for 40 years until 2018 brought them back together.

1. "Saving California" (7:50) hits all of the NeoProg 1978 imitative bells and whistles but ends up sounding more LOVERBOY or JOURNEY than prog. The end, however, is all IQ. (13/15)

2. "Flowerbride" (8:22) standard NeoProg palette with riffs and hooks to match. The vocal section has a bit of a FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD sound and feel to it; definitely some kind of 1980s influences. Interesting blend of familiar hooks and riffs that, I have to admit, deserves some praise. The boxed-in bass player is entertaining but often feels as if he's off in some other room--sequestered from the other band members. (Maybe it was recorded during the isolationist period of the Pandemic.) Decent. (17/20)

3. "Running Man" (4:11) another song that feels mired in the "new" effects born in the 1980s. Even the main melody and compositional presentation feel 80s-90s. The more subdued, second section is much more engaging and refreshing to me--kind of like some SATELLITE or PENDRAGON song. (8.6667/10)

4. "I Can Hear You Calling" (11:36) a GLASS HAMMER-sounding opening turns into a bit-too-much predictable prog-by- the-numbers. (17.25/20)

5. "Windchill" (7:31) this one opens just like a powerful MYSTERY tune that sustains a pretty decent, engaging CIRRUS BAY-like sound palette with interesting sophistication and some nice guitar soli. (13.33333/15)

6. "Time Traveller "(7:26) opens like some spacey outtake from Blade Runner before ramping up into the realm of THE PSYCHEDELIC ENSEMBLE. Interesting twist at 3:40 when a pedal steel, bass and drums replicate the "Time/Breathe" foundation before John takes us into some different areas (like Cirrus Bay and ) (13.125/15)

7. "The Machine Stops" (13:32) opens with a little PHILLIP GLASS feel coming from the piano's Minimalist play. It then turns into a IQ/STYX collaboration. It wends its way in and out of some interesting musical territory but the presentation of the lyrical content kind of drags and misses the mark. Nice guitar solo in the thirteenth minute. (26.5/30)

8. "Assassin's Cloak" (5:35) Very nice, melodic NeoProg. (8.75/10)

9. "DNA" (9:25) very interesting and engaging instrumental opening that eventually supports some recordings of a biophysicist's before John comes in to sing. The buildup in the eighth minute and final instrumental passage supporting the excellent lead guitar solo (Robin Armstrong or John Harris?) Great finish to a very pleasant and solid album. (17.875/20)

Total Time 75:28

Very nice AOR/NeoProg music, with very pleasant vocals (and lyrics) whose production value sounds as if it could very well have come out around 1980. Great sound and melodic sense that could use a little bit more zing and flash. I hope they still have a little gas in the tank for another go.

B/3.5 stars marked up for superior production and polish; a nice addition to any prog lover's music collection.