FANTASY BRIDGE

Mark Green's "Fantasy Bridge" is a labor of love from a self-described corporate clone (on his day job.) Green had a bout with cancer a few years back and in response to what must be the ultimate wake-up call, he poured his heart and soul into this project. It shows. Green is a talented composer and performer with good pop and prog-rock instincts who sometimes reminded me of Dennis DeYoung. He has a theatrical flair to his keyboard work, an optimistic tone to the music, and the same willingness to wear his heart on his sleeve that always came through on those old Styx albums. Another reference would Italian artist MacroMarco who plays a similar uplifting, keyboard-rich and accessible prog rock. And there are moments throughout which reminded me of Supertramp and sometimes ELO.

With songs about fantasy, science fiction, lost childhood and love, Fantasy Bridge sounds like a musician opening his vault, and indeed Green says some of these ideas go back decades. A keyboard whiz, Green plays a wide variety of hardware and piano with much expression and produces a larger than life canvas. The musicians backing him are very good and there are many melodic electric guitar parts. "Children of a Forgotten Sun" is a 13 minute classic styled epic with different themes and richness throughout, very beautiful elements, and the highlight for me. There are some short instrumental pieces like the symphonic "Dawn", a warm piano solo "Endless Ocean," a modern mix of synth and sax called "Quiescence," and a rendition of the classical "Ode to Joy." There is a great opening to "Don't Give Up on Love" with choir vocals and an ominous tone, then the track shifts completely to a perhaps-too-sweet chorus-heavy pop song that became the one track I had trouble sitting through repeatedly. "Autumn Rain" is also quite pop oriented but with a honky-tonk piano accompaniment and a flashy synth solo. "A Day by the Sea" is a touching closer, a lovely 10-minute ode to childhood lost with acoustic guitars and lovely harmonies.

Fantasy Bridge is wonderful and I hope Green continues in good health for many years! (Be sure to check out Torodd's interview with Mark for more info).

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