At first I though new vocalist, soprano Jannine Pusch knew as much about performing progressive rock songs as she did about the offside rule.
After listening to the whole album, I ate humble pie.
A large chunk of Central Park's second album is a fascinating collection of accessible progressive rock that coalesces around Pusch's resonating singing tone, much of it in the vein of Yes and King Crimson. But on the half spoken verses of openers, 'Free Fall' and 'White Princess' - both plodders - she sounds uncomfortable, forced and at times, and heavily accented on what are often poor lyrics.
If the songs had been written to Pusch's strengths throughout, this would have been a real contender.
It was a real surprise then to find that by the albums fifth track, 'Vision', which is actually the first "movement" of a three part suite, titled 'Vision Of Cassandra', the band hit their impressive stride.
It plays like a movie soundtrack. Crashes, bangs, portentous voiceovers, choirs and swells of programmed sound swirl in and out of focus. But It might be a bit po faced for all but progrock fans.
The two closing tracks that follow the Suite, 'Paths Of Mercy' and 'The Last Tear' maintain the band's intriguing invention and tight plotting and are arguably the album's standout tracks.
'Reflected' is clearly an unconventional album, even by progressive rock standards, but the usual traps of over complicated arrangements and clinical execution are astutely avoided.
And it's a real grower.
Interesting.
Style: Progressive Rock
Rating: 6/10Posted by
Brian - Tuesday, February 1, 2011
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