CELEBRATION

Patte lists many idols in prog: Genesis, Yes, Gentle Giant, Marillion, Dream Theater and Neal Morse. And one really can hear them all in his music. There's not a single detail that would give away his nationality (Estonian). The production is excellent, and the arrangements (by Patte) are also sophisticated. Co-musicians play e.g. flute, cello and saxophone, while Patte himself plays keyboards, 12-string and percussion. this album almost feels like a tribute to his idols. The two first songs are very Genesis-like ('Learn to Live' even actually copies the arrangement ideas of 'A Trick of the Tail', but does so in a pleasant style), the third reminds me of IQ, and in 'One Way' he clearly nods to Gentle Giant, especially with multilayered vocals.

Towards the end there come some less interesting songs that feel like 80's commercial hard rock. Also Patte's pretentious voice (somewhere between Neal Morse and Little Steven) helps that association. Ther long title track in the end includes a section in the lyrics ("all that you...") very reminiscent of Floyd's 'Eclipse', otherwise the track has the ambitious pomposity of a Pendragon epic. So, as you guessed, not very original work, but quite enjoyable nevertheless, if you like Genesis-influenced neo-prog. There are some Christian overtones in the album but definitely not too emphasised.