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:: Review ::
Farpoint is a band that I find just a little hard to categorize. There are just to
many influences present. Don't get me wrong. Diversity is a great strength and
Farpoint is very strong because of it. It just doesn't make my job as a "music
reviewer" (with other nasty habits as well) easy! After listening to this band
several times, I feel sure that these folks have been around music for a long time.
The depth of musical knowledge and styles is very obvious and their ability to blend
it all together so nicely leaves me musing over just how compatible all forms of
contemporary music ultimately are with each other, and with classical music to
boot. Now that is a mouthful. Yes, this work ended up giving me a few things to
kick around mentally.
All that being said, how best to describe the music of Farpoint? Farpoint's
sound is guitar centered (a little folksy) with elements of rock, country, bluegrass
and classical often combined with a slight metal edge. Overall the music might be
better described as Folk Rock rather than Progressive Rock, but as I have said in
other reviews, Prog should never narrowly define itself and Farpoint can, and
should, be considered progressive.
Vocally the band is very interesting. The female vocalist Dana Oxendine's voice
(who shares lead and background vocal chores) has been described as angelic and I
heartily agree. Her vocals are crisp and clear and I absolutely love all of her
parts. The vocals of Clark Boone are in stark contrast. His lower ranged gravely
delivery takes the bands songs in another direction entirely and takes a little
getting used to. They did grow on me though as did the rest of the album. What is
neat about the vocal styles are the harmony sections between the two? They invoke
that late 60's feeling when it was not uncommon for two dissimilar vocalists to
"harmonize." Very folksy indeed.
The tracks on "First Light" are all open and largely upbeat. The opening track
entitled "Live for Yourself," starts with a lovely organ backed vocal from Oxendine
and changes into an edgy guitar rocker featuring Boone's vocals and some very nice
up tempo bass playing. The second song on the album, "Words of Pain", is a
beautifully haunting guitar piece featuring Oxendine's voice. A little Baroque or
perhaps Celtic. It is my favorite selection on the album. It is a shame it's not a
half hour long. A later song "Circles", featuring Ms. Oxendine, makes up for it a
little though. "Long Slow Journey" is a tight rocker that really could find it's
way into the country music scene. It has a nice blend of vocals, guitars and a
country/folk sound. Definitely air time worthy. "Chinook" and "Tartan" are next.
Two very nice instrumentals showcasing nice electric guitar and keyboard work.
These are perhaps the most Prog like tunes on the recording giving me the impression
of bands such as "Yes" and guitar great Eric Johnson. Nice pieces both.
The fourteen plus minute mini-opus "To the River" follows. A tune in three
sections. This song has a decidedly country feel to it and sings of "going down to
the river, down by that old willow tree, to wash away your memory". This tune takes
full advantage of Boone's vocals and showcases the harmony style I spoke of
earlier. Coupled with a great bass section and the happy use of mandolin playing.
This song takes itself home beautifully. Any fans of Jerry Rafferty out there would
find this song especially appealing. It and large parts of this album are very much
in that style. The album finishes with a nice classical guitar piece, which is a
previously recorded bonus track on the album.
Farpoint's first full length album is a very nice piece of work. I was not
bowed over by it at first, and that was my fault. It took me a little out of my
normal music world and ended up being worth the trip. It is often so that the best
albums take a few listens to warm up to. This was one of those for me. It took me
a few times around to hear and appreciate all the subtleties and influences that are
present. If you are the type of Prog fan who likes a little folk rock and likes
acoustic guitar, this CD is for you. I'm eager to here what they come up with
next. In the meantime, I'll pull this one on now and again. It's good cruising
music. That sort of figures doesn't it?
I'll just have to rate this at
..................8 keyboards
Reviewed by: Steven J. Mynaugh, 11-21-02
Visit the artist website:
Farpoint
Email:
farpoint@farpointband.com
:: Discography ::
First Light - 2002
Grace (coming in 2003)
You can purchase this CD from
Farpoint
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