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: From Land to Ocean : :
With the utmost intention of creating an extended concept album
that intends to complete the whole scheme of over the top musicianship, extended
compositions, and deep storylines, Galleon have created a full blown literary
exploration into evolution and demise, using the whole Land and Ocean contrast to
create two different records that coincide into one complete epic.
Lyrically, the storyline follows almost a George Orwell meets L. Ron Hubbard type
literary analysis that tends to speak of the evolution into paradise, following into
destruction and peril, with the concepts of nuclear destruction and alien/machine
domination being present, obviously creating a film-esque storyline, being more in
your face telling the point, instead of creating a mysterious concept that albums
such as Operation: Mindcrime or Dark Side of the Moon have presented.
It’s not only the lyrics that stand
out; it’s the whole production musician aspect that gives From Land to Ocean
it’s other half of creative endurance. Combining Marillion, Early Genesis, Flower
Kings, and Yes to persevere with their own sound filled with analog synthesizers and
metallic leads to fill out the albums thick atmospheric overtones of war and peace.
When it comes to the first disc, appropriately titled The Land begins on the
normal overture complete improvisation of keyboard arpeggios and guitar solos, with
the keyboards most of the pad sounds, taking the place of where the rhythm guitar
would normally give an album it’s heavy crunch (that might answer a few questions
about the heaviness level of the record), with the soloing coming from more of a
neo-classical standpoint rather than being a complete jam session. Vocally, Fors is
reminiscent of Roine Stolt and in one-way or another, he tends to sing a narration
of the record; I will also mention that the drumming on this record has a more live
rock style, rather than being completely busy in the Portnoy/Zonder style.
Looking at Land song for song, the title cut has somewhat of a Jethro Tull
feel to it, being somewhat of a minstrel folk vibe to it, “Liopleurodon” comes
complete with it’s Dream Theater connotations, while two ballads “Solitude” and the
acoustic “The Porch” are very much along the lines of Marillion’s Misplaced
Childhood, otherwise the rest of the disc carries the whole atmospheric
progressive moody vibe.
As for the Second Disc, one track clocking in at just under an hour, appropriately
titled The Ocean, tends to follow the same structure of Land, but yet
leans more towards on aggressive pattern, tending to be heavier with more
improvisation, given it’s moments of more eased back segments verses the heavier
interludes that often follow, staying in the same key throughout, making this more
of a highly extended piece with only the occasional parts that break away from the
normal structure that Ocean carries, sort of being a modernized, but yet more
conceptual version of Close to the Edge.
From Land to Ocean is one of the strongest concept albums to be heard, tending to be
easier on the ears than many symphonic albums that grace the record racks, combining
progressive grandeur along with the occasional pop song simplicity to keep the
record in synch with listeners. For some this could be considered the long lost
record that Fish never created with Marillion and so on.
Rating: 8/10 Stars
Reviewer: Tommy Hash
: : Visit the Artist’s Website : :
: : Discography : :
Lynx - 1992
Heritage & Visions - 1994
At This Moment in Time - 1994
King Of Aragon - 1995
The All European Hero - 1996
Mind Over Matter - 1998
Beyond Dreams - 2000 |
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