AD INFINITUM

The USA progrock label Kinesis has released some fine albums from bands like Rocket Scientists, Illuvatar and Fonya. Here is a pleasant CD from Ad Infinitum, a band featuring Todd Bravermann from Cathedral (neo-prog band). On this eponymous album he wanted to re-create the wonderful Seventies sound. The instrumentation is breathtaking: Gibson, Fender, Ibanez and Yamaha guitars, ARP Pro Solist -, Oberheim OBX-A and Matrix 1000 synthesizers, the famous Moog Taurus bass pedals, the even more legendary Rickenbacker bass guitar and modern sound modules like the EMU Vintage Keys (great Mellotron samples) and Roland IV 880 and the band hired a Mellotron from Illuvatar, you can't beg for more!

So the equipment was available, what about the music! Well, don't worry, Ad Infinitum has delivered a wonderful 24-carat symphonic rock album: pleasant compositions, strong guitarwork and great keyboards evoking the unsurpassed Seventies sound (Genesis in "Ad infinitum" and Yes in "Immortality). The singer is from a Genesis tribute band, he managed to come close to the typcial, a bit melancholic Peter Gabriel voice from the early Genesis. The Mellotron is very omnipresent in the tracks "Waterline" and "All hallows eve", lastmentioned song could have been from "Wind and wuthering"! This music is not very original or earthshaking but especially for the mid-Genesis - and vintage keyboard aficionados an enjoyable album.