BOOK OF THE DEAD

As I get older I find my tastes mellowing and I yearn for"Good Classic Prog" from the long,longago.What is Classic Prog? Mellow keyboards,acoustic guitar,maybe some violin or flute and skilled but not flowery musicianship.You dont really get it anymore do you? Then this album floated down the superhighway,highly recommended from people who know a damn good album when they hear one,and I just cant stop relaxing to it. Arch-noodler Allan Holdsworth has lead guitar duties,and he keeps it straight and simple for the most part,more melodic passages and less frenetic fretwork which helps to keep the whole album together instead of distracting the ear with wizardry.All the assembled musicians play with subtlety with Jaquess in particular putting in some nice bass particularly on the bass showcase "Arten" The concept is of course the infamous "Book Of The Dead" and could easily foundered on the rocks of religious or spiritual tweeness but Guerin's voice adds a certain clarity to the story.Reminiscient of Gabriel,at his Genesis era best,he manages to keep the whole thing tied together and moving along.Of course there are echoes of early Genesis,Yes,ELP and inevitably UK, yet it feels like a breath of fresh air.Great to wind down to but never boring. Highly recommended,but not for the jet set!