HOME AND SANCTUARY

Tough to find out anything about this band except for Greg Walker saying they sound like Marillion and IQ. All I know is that this is one special album. Very meaningful lyrics with English vocals. Seems to be a concept album or maybe it just has this theme running through it. Anyway it appears to deal with people (or a person) who are (is) lonely and lost in this world. Some emotional lyrics here. This band is a three-piece consisting of guitar, drums and vocals / flute.They do have guests adding keyboards, cello, bass and sax. There is a three piece choir too.

"Look At This World" opens with lots of people talking then the music kicks in quickly.The guitar is prominant. It settles as vocals join in.Great sound when the vocals and sound get more passionate. Contrasts continue. Check out the guitar after 4 minutes. Just a fantstic song. "Quiet Room" opens with organ and features some excellent guitar as the drums pound. This guy can play a melodic guitar. It settles then vocals come in at 2 1/2 minutes in a reserved manner. Spoken words 4 1/2 minutes in as the music gets tense.The drums and guitar sound so good. Great sound before 6 minutes then it settles again with some beautiful guitar. "Into The Maze" is my favourite. Check out the bass and cello in this song. There's just so much passion. Killer guitar 7 minutes in.This song is so uplifting and emotional.

"Summer Afternoon" has samples of children playing throughout, and it gets more intense towards the end. The lyrics here are about children and they say: "You can see in their eyes they don't need no disguise, look at them play, so innocently finding life's meaning in their games. I wish I could be one of them". The rest of the lyrics here are just as good. "Shattered Melody" has lots of mood shifts and is a darker song than the previous ones.There is some amazing guitar and drum interplay followed by an awesome guitar solo. Synths and drums lead the way late.The final tune "Closed Garden" has a piano intro followed by vocals. We get a fuller sound before 2 minutes. A calm before 4 1/2 minutes with sad vocals and piano. Even the guitar that comes in is melancholic. It turns powerful 7 minutes in as the sax joins in and the tempo picks up.This is so emotional as the sax leads the way.

Highly recommended to MARILLION fans and fans of meaningful and emotional music. I wish this band was more known, they deserve to be.