FANTASY BRIDGE

This is the first solo album by Mark Green, a talented keyboard player and composer from the UK who has been involved in music for a long time, and whose first "child" entitled "Fantasy Bridge" saw the light in this 2011 year. The album comprises ten compositions, which make a total time of an hour of music. Here you will find interesting songs, nice melodies and a sound that blends progressive rock with some alternative and poppier tunes.

It kicks off with "Fantasy Bridge" a short and nice introductory keyboard-based track, with a friendly sound. In the last minute we can appreciate guitars, drums and keyboards completing this cool opener song, which leads to the longest track of the album. It is "Children of a Forgotten Sun", which starts much softer, with a calm atmosphere. After a minute vocals appear for the first time in the album, and then the song itself starts creating its structure. There is a nice intercalation between instrumental passages, and the ones with vocals. The track is very rich in sounds and images, and also challenging, well- structured, and with nice performances on guitars, drums, bass and of course keyboards. In the song you will listen to several inner passages, some little changes in time and mood, giving as a result a very good track.

"Dawn" is a wonderful title, perfectly represented in the music, because one can actually imagine that scene, like being in a beautiful place, waking up and see the dawn. Though it is a short song, it is very rich, relaxing and enjoyable. "Don't Give Up On Love" follows the dawn feeling, but seconds later it changes, the other instruments enter and a new melody with its rhythm begins. Just before the third minute, Green's voice enters and seconds later is joined by other choir vocals. The particular moment where they sing "don't give up on love" is very reminiscent to some 80s pop/rock artists, which is not bad at all, but something worth mentioning. There is a nice instrumental passage at minute five, with percussion, bass, a guitar solo that contrasts with the keyboards. Nice track.

"Endless Ocean" is a soft piano-based track with a pretty similar sound for four minutes. Not a superb addition, but a good song that works as an intermission. "Autumn Rain" starts precisely with some thunders, seconds later, drums, piano and vocals enter in a pretty catchy way. The voice is honestly not the most memorable, but it does not harm the music at all, it works as a nice complement. Though the song's structure may be repetitive and even plain, there is a cool keyboard solo after three minutes which makes it more diverse.

"Quiescence" is the shortest track, but it is wonderful. The sound is different due to its electronic-like sound, and due to a wonderful and delicious saxophone sound. Too bad it ends so quickly, because I honestly adore this song. "Together on the Shores of Time" is, on the other hand, one of my least favorite songs. I found it just as an average track, boring in moments and with anything new to add. I am sorry if I am being mean, but I did not like this particular composition.

"Ode to Joy" is a Mark Green's version of this classic piece, converted into a progressive / AOR tune. Nice one! And finally "A Day by the Sea", another epic (eleven minutes) track, with a friendly, gently and mellow sound. It changes at the third minute, when electric guitars enter, accompanying bass, drums and keyboards, creating a faster and louder sound, but keeping the same friendly tune. As in the second track, this one also has several passages, and that nice intercalation between vocal and instrumental moments. Nice song to finish the album.

Congratulations to Mark Green for his first album. Here we can appreciate the undeniable talent he has, and I am sure he will give us in the near future new musical proposals. I like Fantasy Bridge, I would highlight three tracks, and count the other ones as part of the puzzle, but not outstanding pieces. My final grade will be three (and a half) stars.

Enjoy it!