SMPT:E

Put together the talented guitar performing by Roine STOLT from THE FLOWER KINGS, the majestic drums of Mr. Mike PORTNOY from progmetal band DREAM THEATER, the gifted keyboards execution by Neal MORSE and outstanding MARILLION's bassist Pete TREWAVAS and what you get in return? TRANSATLANTIC. These great musicians definitely pulled this project off with this gathering by combining the correct ingredients, by mixing the precise formula and by releasing "SMPT:E". Each one of these marvelous guys brought a lil' something into it, and by that I mean they absolutely forgot about their rolls they play on their actual bands. It ain't a sketchy blend of a lil' pinch of MARILLION there or a lil' smidge of SPOCK'S BEARD there, no! this is an original creation, a unique revealing prog warp to new horizons (you can call me overreacting, but that's just the way I feel about this material).

I don't see TRANSATLANTIC as another "for the old times" get gathering, this is indeed the result of an arduous work in the studio since I believe it must've been pretty difficult for these guys to connect in the first place, but once on track and from the get go, this record explains itself. "All of the above" is an incomparable prog suite that shows us that it's not all about long drum solos and hypnotic strident guitars; this song may appear endless to you once you pop the cd in, but you gotta go along without blinking and believe me, you'll be amazed by the end of it and asking for seconds. I think this could be the beginning of something huge, and I'm hoping that right after "Live in America" and "Live in Europe", the SMPT:E experience will be taken to a whole different level. Let it be more TRANSATLANTIC ladies and gentlemen.