|
| |
|
: :
Cryptic
Vision – In A World : :
|
|
Band/artist: Cryptic Vision
Title: In A World
Released: 2006
Label: Progrock Records |
 |
Track
listing:
1. In a World
2. This Dream Part I
3. Common Ground
4. Merkaba
5. All Along
6. The Space in Between
7. I Am the Energy
8. Point of View
9. Power to Mend
10. Find
11. The Balance
12. This Dream Part II/In a World (Reprise) |
: : The Players : :
Rick Duncan (drums, guitar, keyboards) - Todd Plant (vocals, guitar) -
Sam Conable (bass, vocals) - Timothy Keese (guitar, vocals) - Howard
Helm (keyboards, vocals).
GUESTS: David Ragsdale (violin) - Alan Morse (guitar) - Ralph Santolla
(guitar) - John Zahner (keyboards) - Jerry Outlaw (guitar) - Shawn Bowen
(guitar) - Carrie Martin (angelic choir vocals) |
|
: : In A
World : :
Cryptic Vision hails from Florida, USA. Starting out more or less as a
two man studio project involving guest musicians, they are now more of a
full fledged band - although guest musicians are still heavily involved.
In A World is their third release, and their second studio release.
I was looking forward to this release personally. From what I heard of
the debut album by these guys, they showed a lot of promise. And I was
really looking forward to hearing how these guys had developed.
Musically Cryptic Vision play prog rock with a strong 70's tinge to the
sound, stylistically varying from ear-friendly soft rock to harder rock
reminding a bit of Dream Theater but without the metal bits. Binding it
all together is a vocalist with a radio-friendly voice and vocal
harmonies from the rest of the guys, giving the music more than a slight
feel of AOR at times.
On the debut album Cryptic Vision was to some extent searching for an
identity. Inspirations could be heard in several tracks, but the music
as such had drive and energy.
On this release Cryptic Vision has managed to get more coherent
identity-wise, but the songs are missing something. Exactly pinpointing
what's missing or what's putting me off is hard though, no specific big
reasons involved. But some of the details I noted while listening
through the album was:
Vocals and vocal harmonies: Uplifting to the point of sounding a bit
like gospel at times. And I really don't like gospel personally.
Song coherence: Some of
the tracks here consist of many parts, that musically and/or sound wise
just doesn't have a red thread; making them sound like pieces from
different puzzles rather than pieces of the same puzzle.
Rhythms: Drums and bass a bit too dominant in places, especially in
mellow parts of some songs.
Song structure: Some tracks, planned or not, made me associate with AOR.
Both vocals generally and vocals used in the chorus sections of songs,
as well as musical development in some tracks from verse to chorus made
me think about AOR.
The above details combined; and other details as well probably; made
most tracks here a bit dull overall. Sounds nice and ok, but doesn't
really give me anything. So in my point of view, this release is an
average musical outing. Nothing very good, nothing bad - but ok.
One track sounded much better than the rest though; and as such is my
recommended track from this release: "I Am The Energy"
Rating: 6 (out of 10)
Reviewer: Olav Björnsen
: : Visit the Artist’s Website : :
: : Discography : :
In A World (2006)
Live at Rosfest (2005)
Moments of Clarity (2003)
|
|
|
 |
|
