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World Through My Eyes : :
If any of you
illustrious readers of this or any of my other music reviews know by now
is that I'm a complete sucker for music that falls into the realm of
classic symphonic progressive rock or even (heaven forbid!) NEO-PROG.
Well, again as you are probably quite aware, RPWL (born from the ashes
of a very excellent but late to the scene neo-prog band Violet District)
started out with a very Pink Floyd feel to their music. And as their
sound has morphed and changed from a direct Pink Floyd clone, this band
has put together a sound that while not 100% original is in fact full of
life. They have enough original pieces that they can truly stand head
and shoulders above many of the current crop of symphonic prog want to
be bands out there today.
You notice from the opening chords of "Sleep" that RPWL has once again
offered up a slightly different take on their sound. The addition of
Indian musical instruments as well as Indian choirs really has the
listener unexpectedly thrown into a new musical soundscape that was at first unexpected yet totally in tune to what
RPWL has been doing since they broke forth on the progressive rock
scene.
Lyrically these guys really hit all my buttons. Their songs speak, at
least to my heart and mind, to the injustices of life, to the greed and
dishonesty of our leaders, to our unexplainable path to war when peace
is truly what our gods ask us to find. "World Through My Eyes" does not
let the listener off on that point. "Start The Fire" is just such a
song. It forces us to address the errors of our leaders and "start the
fire" of love that will in fact ultimately save the world.
The songs are well produced, are placed properly among themselves and
take the listener on a musical journey where in one song you are moved
to rocking cosmic heights then gently cradled in the warm loving arms of
the next song that has the tempo slowed to a quiet passage as they sing
over the mood with though provoking lyrics and musical surprises. As the
refrain from "Everything Was Not Enough" states
"All I have seen
I can't tell you anymore.
All I have been
So many things that we don't know
Caught in the tide of time
If only one last wish was left
Everyone should reap what he has sown."
I guess that says it all.
Another thing the RPWL family has done on this CD is add a few guest
artists, and this is never more noticeable that the song "Roses" on
which Ray Wilson is featured. This entire song is brilliant from
beginning to end. The classic guitar throughout the song does remind one
of Rothery's early guitar work with Marillion but it is Ray's voice that
brings a gravelly touch that adds such a sweet undercurrent of
brilliantly conceived and executed progressive rock music.
"3 Lights" is one of
those songs that give me chill bumps it is so good. It starts off with a
haunting acoustic guitar with just Yogi singing and weaving a musical
tapestry that wraps the listener in a blanket of warmth and security. It
makes you feel good that there really is hope in the world. This may be
the best song on the entire CD if for no other reason than it captures
not only the feel of what RPWL is trying to say but also the emotion
that guides and directs them. This song is just full of lite musical ear
candy that has me hitting the replay button each time I listen through
this CD.
Just when you think these guys could not improve on their sound and
songs, they follow a great song like "3 Lights" with a song so totally
cool in its difference from 3 Lights, called "Sea-Nature". The irony or
lack there of is that Sea-Nature is actually written by Steve Hillage so
the Gong and space trucking connection is quite clear. The keyboard work
in this song is so totally "trippy" that any self respecting star ship
trooper would simply sit down, strap in, and set the controls for the
heart of the sun! I think you get my point.
I'm totally serious when I tell you that this CD gets better with each
song. While some bands front load their releases with the good songs up
first, this CD literally has songs improving as you get deeper into the
CD. So much so that by the time it is over you are forced to realize
there just is no more. No more.
Luckily on the CD I purchased it has a bonus track called "New Stars Are
Born" and frankly this should have been part of the whole. It is in no
way a weak attempt at adding "filler". Nope, "New Stars" carries the
RPWL mantle high and well. Basically it asks us are we willing to see
when the time comes for us to move on, move forward, take that step to
advance not step backward.
"…When new stars are born,
Don't break the silence.
Never look back at what is left,
What has been before.
When new stars are born,
A new day is dawning,
Don't be afraid of what is gone,
Or fear what is still to come."
If you have a progressive rock bone in your body, if you care for the
world, if doing the right thing is how you live your life then "World
Through My Eyes" is for you. Period.
Frankly, to this reviewer it does not get any better than this.
Rating: 9.9 because nothing gets a perfect 10!
Reviewer: Stephen Ellis
: : 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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