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World Through My Eyes : :
World Through My Eyes represents
all the major points of why I love progressive rock so much. RPWL has
really stretched out on their latest work incorporating a variety of
spiritual overtones with a growth in composition and performance that
puts them near the very top of progressive music today. First, let me
indulge in some of the obvious, and not so obvious. If you enjoyed Peter
Gabriel’s UP, Genesis’ Selling England By The Pound & Calling All
Stations and of course Pink Floyd, you should love World Through My
Eyes. It combines all the best of old and new world prog, presented in
such a way that it gathers and demands your attention from the opening
note to the very close.
These guys have become so good it is scary. The opening song Sleep, is a
dreamy Middle Eastern, Indian flavored tune with a floating middle
section of vocals that brings you to a airy plateau. Throughout this
piece Wallner’ guitar shines. Start The Fire begins with strong rhythms
and moves into a powerful interplay of vocals and instruments, which
evolves into a short but excellent keyboard riff featuring organ.
Everything Was Not Enough is a lovely tune of reflection with beautiful
piano and vocals that are gradually joined by subtle bass and guitar and
finally drums and gentle strings. The next song, Roses, provides one of
several surprises on the CD. Featuring the lead vocals of Ray Wilson,
this song helps us realize just how under appreciated Genesis last
recording, Calling All Stations, was. RPWL aptly recreates the sound
stage of Banks and Rutherford, no easy task, in their own wonderful way,
and Wilson delivers. It also proves that Tony and Michael gave up to
quickly on Genesis. The following song, 3 Lights is absolutely stunning,
opening with Wallner’ guitar and Lang’ vocals and builds to an emotional
powerhouse of keyboards and atmospheric guitar. For the next tune, the
guys go deep into the bag and pull out an old gem written by Steve
Hillage and Miquette Giraudy entitled Sea-Nature, which appeared on
Hillage’ 1978 release, Green which was produced by none other then Pink
Floyd’ Nick Mason. They give this tune a wonderful treatment with
excellent guitar and bass riffs and techno keys. Yogi delivers the
vocals with a great sense of what Hillage was after. Day On My Pillow
provides dreamy, soulful keys and guitar with vocals that I describe as
Lennon like. World Through My Eyes is a ten minute epic that is
unbelievable. These guys are unbelievable. I swear I ‘m listening to
Gabriel’ Up with an Indian influence and a dash of Fripp just for good
measure. Where does this end. Not here. Wasted Land paints pictures of
futility in a strange sort of Barry Williams way. I am not kidding.
To bring the CD to a close, yet
another twist of spiritual insight from Bound To Reach The End. I wish
this disc would never end. The best that RPWL has yet to bring us and I
can’t wait to see what they come up with next. Lets hope they tour in as
many places as possible and certainly somewhere back in the States. Not
a weak song on the disc.
A solid 10 out of 10.
Reviewer: John Bianco
: : Visit the Artist’s Website : :
: : Discography : :
RPWL „TRYING TO KISS THE SUN“
(Tempus Fugit/Point Music 2002)CD
RPWL „GOD HAS FAILED“ (Tempus Fugit/Point Music 2000
: : ALBUM OF THE MONTH FOR
MARCH 2005 : : |
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