Track Listing:
1. Perfect Illusion 6:09 -
Mirror Image
2. Weatherman 4:20
3. Tall Bizarre 4:20
4. Muddy Water 3:41
5. Tundra 3:57
6. Walk On 4:11
7. Aimless 3:32
8. The Anger 3:40
9. Full Of Stars 3:19
10. Electric Skies 4:43
Shaun Michaud - Guitars and
Keyboards
Jay Rigney - Bass
Dave Deluco - Vocals
Matt Scurfield - Drums
A young unsigned American band mainly originating from the hallowed Berklee College of Music, Event have quite a definitive statement on their website -
"EVENT will change the minds of anyone who thinks that progressive rock is outdated and cliché. We are out to prove that the genre can be expanded and brought back to the forefront in the 90's."
Well do they succeed in this their first release?
Lets have a look.
The album opens with a very King Crimson (Discipline era) like "Perfect Illusion". Strong memories of Alan Holdsworth early solo albums are also evoked in the off beat vocalisation and the guitar soloing. Altogether
A very promising start.
Weatherman - Opening with a keyboard sound that could have straight from a UK album we get a little more mainstream A.O.R. The guitar break is pure Steve Vai
Tall Bizarre - Opening like a heavy rock "Cars" pop record this track builds to a wonderful clash of Jazz-rock meets Metal.
Muddy Water - Finds Shaun Michaud again exploring Robert Fripp guitar territory - backwards sounding guitars,
Chad Wakerman like drumming. This album is really becoming a Jazz-rock delight.
Tundra - Another track that could almost have come off a UK album. I cant help thinking that this the album UK might have produced if they were influenced more by "Heavy Metal" and less by "Classic Prog". Maybe this is what the lost UK 1998 album "Legacy" would sound like if ever released?
Walk on - The albums delight. Dave Delucos gravely vocal coming out of my speakers with a chorus hook line that went round and round in my head for days.
Aimless - The first instrumental on the album. Sweeping keyboards, guitar work that chops and turns in and out of the main melody pitted against a march like percussive backdrop.
The Anger - A little more mainstream Metal like approach in the guitar work this is another track that could get the band some deserved airplay. Ending with the vocal line "Oh My God" then the instrumental it's…
…Full of Stars- This track is stunning, showing off the versatility of all musicians this is jazz-rock at its finest.
Electric Skies - Dave Delucos vocals give the album an anthemic sounding close.
Perhaps best described as a Metal-Jazz Rock fusion, Electric Skies, with first class musicianship from all concerned, is all in all a stunning first album. However, not what most people would describe as a "Progressive rock" album.
In the past bands working within the Jazz-rock fusion fields have tended to be, although critically acclaimed, commercially unsuccessful and short lived. Perhaps Event, with their Metal like approach will change this. I hope so. Certainly, Shaun Michaud - Guitars and Keyboards, is a real find and I am convinced in future become one of Americas top musicians, if not with Event, then surely in session work.
If you are into King Crimson / U.K / Steve Vai or fans of Jazz-rock with a commercial or harder edge then take it from me you will love this album.
Events website : http://www.mysticfishook.com/EVENT.html
Residents of all European countries contact: http://www.digital-design.de/rising-sun/