Prog4you.com - Progressive Rock Review - AL Bird

: : REVIEW : :

Where do I start? Let’s just get this out of the way first. THIS is a wonderfully beautiful CD. One of the wonderful things about the fall of communism and the day the Berlin wall came down, was the fact that freedom of expression and free religious thought suddenly was everywhere. And love of progressive rock in all its forms was a direct result of this “new found” freedom.

Case in point, this CD. Albert Khalmurzayev, “Al-Bird”, as he likes to be called, has been making music for some time. Hailing from Uzbekistan in the former Soviet Union, he along with several others have put together certainly some of the most exciting progressive rock music to come our way in some time. Following in the lead of bands like Solaris, these guys have put together a marvelous symphonic classic in this CD. And you should check out their web site, www.progressor.net to get a fresh look at this music we love. Frankly, I can’t wait to check out Al-Bird’s other project, X Religion, after hearing this one.

As the title points out, this is a musical interpretation of the Biblical Old Testament story of the rise and fall of Sodom & Gomorra. One long 49 minute plus song. You cannot jump from track to track. A solid listen is required for sure.

The music is a wonderful mix of classical, symphonic, religious, secular, pop, jazz, et al. It moves clearly and logically from Part I through Part IV. This is all instrumental music with small vocalizing (Al-Bird’s term) parts, samples from various sources, Gregorian styled chants at times, wonderful keyboard passages and melodic soothing guitar work.

However, this is a story of the most hedonistic place on earth and how God, so totally appalled at the behavior and actions of his early creations, completely destroyed the city and all it’s occupants with the exception of Lot and his family. Ah but Lot’s wife, the one turned to a pillar of salt, she just had to take a longing “look back” at sin personified.

I really like this CD. It moves like a classical symphony all the while never getting boring or sleepy. It is powerfully played and well executed from stage to stage. According to the liner notes it appears that it was actually performed live with dancers performing to the various Parts.

This CD starts off slowly and builds in both tempo and sonic character until the final notes where God destroys the city. This music was so moving I went back to my Bible and read the story again. Wow.

So, if classically styled prog is something you like, if great players and great song structure make you happy, if being compelled to listen to every note in a piece of music is what you like, then this CD is for you.

And do check out their web site, you will be both surprised and intrigued.

Rating: 7.0 of 10
Reviewed By: Stephen Ellis

: : CREDITS : :
Produced by Al-Bird & Vitaly Menshikov.
Engineered by Al-Bird at "Sound X" studio,
Uzbekistan's Youth Theatre, Tashkent, May 2001.
Mastered at "Oriat Dono", Tashkent.

Visit the artist website:
X-RELIGION - http://www.progressor.net/xreligion/
http://www.progressor.net/xreligion/sodom_gomorra.htm

You can purchase this CD from:
"Musea Records" - web site & online store: http://www.musearecords.com/

Mellow Records: http://www.mellowrecords.com/comingsoon.html

: : Discography : :
Sodom & Gomorra XXI - 2002