THE CHANGING TIDE

A native of Caracas, Venezuela, Leon Alvarado makes his home in the USA and for over two decades has been a keyboard and drums specialist, collaborating also with a wide variety of established prog rock artists as well as launching his own solo career back in 2009, with 2024's "the Changing Tide" being his 7th solo venture. Bassist Tony Franklin (the Firm, Roy Harper, Rocket Scientists, Tony MacAlpine, Lana Lane etc?) and Supertramp stalwart sax player John Anthony Helliwell are on board as well as guitarists Eduardo Scordo and Damian Darlington (Britfloyd) as well as James Griggers and Gary Gnaedinger on bass, guitar and keys both on one track, the recognizable finale. Needless to state that there are a plethora of Pink Floyd influenced bands out there, not surprisingly as they are still among the most famous bands ever. Leon has that wonderful attribute, especially on this album, of not being content with the easy extremes, namely too similar or vaguely reminiscent which would be the easy way to address the arrangements. The final track is the exception as "Brain Damage" pays the proper homage, albeit with a different sounding vocal. The other five preceding instrumental tracks are extremely ingenious in delicately camouflaging the thunder with hints and murmurs of various Pink Floyd tracks that I will not choose to divulge, so as to make the listener's search for clues even more challenging. In fact, the entire album is sprinkled with references, nods, winks and grins that make the whole experience worthwhile.

"The Equilibrium of Time "sets the oars onto the sea green waters (pun intended) as Leon engages the various keyboards into a gentle paddle, steering towards electronic pools of synthesized flutter, that instantly recognizable monotone beat and a delightful cello and strings transition that arouses the orchestral spirit. Rivulets of troubled piano engage the roiled swells with a bombastic sensitivity, streaking organ waves splashing against the hull and finally, the screeching seagulls appear, swirling wildly overhead, Edoardo using his avian guitar skills. Franklin's bass interjecting a new compass heading and the flotilla moves into finally quiet seas.

You can feel the eyebrows raised in recognition on the splendid "A Day of a Different Sort", that languorous guitar- led evocation of the bluesiest of cloudy atmospheres, a panting run, an engine coughing into revs, a crash and a new horizon that stretches as far as the eyes can see, the electric guitar wooing and seducing the inner ear canals, penetrating the brain with contentedly numb anaesthesia, the various keyboards combining in kaleidoscopic colorations. The solo is resolute, unflinching, dramatic and eventful.

A spontaneous segue into the "A View from a Different Room", a balmy, keyboard intense foray that can only lead to an exhilarating series of saxophone solos from Helliwell, a visceral fretboard cascade and Leon's grandiloquent symphonic synthesizer expanse. The tingling e-piano, the bird effects and that winding down saxophone and drumbeat are exemplary additions to the arrangement. The mood gets quite experimental on "Dance of the Pink Elephants", Franklin's wicked fretless bass carrying the load, the mammoth percussive bulldozer relentlessly in pursuit, a weaving slide guitar and that churning organ assault. They all combine in a psychedelic trance -like subjugation of the senses as the pachyderms wave goodbye and return to the jungle. Osibisa on pinpricks.

The title track is a much livelier essay, the ornate piano upfront and center, the slide guitar carving a gorgeous melody, growing in symphonic grandeur and reaching a final paroxysm of absolute contentment. For all you insane Grantchester meadow lovers, the classic "Brain Damage" offers a devoted rendition, with a vocal that differs thankfully, massive choir work, the familiar chortling effects there as a proper vestige of 'one of those days' in the distant past, the keys are wobblier and thus quite exciting.

Leon Alvarado has chosen a successful path in experimenting with his deep-rooted musical influences, as well as creating enough personal originality to make this a most worthy acquisition for the curious prog aficionado. Note also the glorious artwork by Synergy Design, very chill indeed!

4.5 adjusting drifts