Prog4you.com - Progressive Rock Review

Band/artist: Al Garcia
Title: Alternate Realities
Released: 2006
Label: Wandlar Productions

Track listing:
1. Alternate Realities
2. Turning Point
3. The Red Queen's Race
4. Secret Correspondences
5. Materia Prima
6. Three of a Kind
7. The Pleasures of Progress
8. A Place in the Sun
9. Calculated Risk

: : Alternate Realities : :

Alternate Realities is the sophomore release from California based multi-instrumentalist Al Garcia.

And on this release, instrumental fusion is what's offered to the public at large. Garcia's approach to fusion is to make it accessible. There's no 10 minutes long droning improvisational pieces here, no dissonance experiments that will turn your mind into jelly, no rhythmical experiments sounding like an industrial machine going amok on LSD.

Instead, Garcia takes a very mellow and melodic approach here. Quite a few of the pieces here are actually more jazz than fusion, as the element of rock music is almost mellowed into non-existence in places. And unlike many artists making fusion records, Garcia's soundscapes are of the dreamy and floating kind, making them an easy listening experience.

In the name dropping department, the music here kind of reminds me of a lighter and more mellow version of what Meola produced in the early to mid 80's.

The downside to this release for me is that few of the songs mange to captivate me. Sure, all instruments are played flawlessly, the soundscapes are spacious and inviting - every instrument is well heard in the mix, and the music is pleasant and clever. But it neither captivates nor grabs me.

Still, for fans of fusions and fans of technically impeccable recordings this one is surely worthwhile checking out. But for me, this ends up as being an ok release, with pleasant being a key word in describing it.

Track recommendation: The Red Queen's Race

Rating: 6 (out of 10)
Reviewer: Olav Björnsen

: : Visit the Artist’s Website : :

: : Discography : :
Alternate Realities (2006)
Make It So (2002)