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: : Review : :
“Spectral”
is the debut CD from DIVIDED SKY,
a four-piece band hailing from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was released in
2002 on the band’s own Divided Sky Music label, giving them control of their
music….and destiny.
 From
a quick glance at the instrumentation, it might be surmised that this is going to be
a “crunchy, guitar-based assault on your senses” type band. Quite right! But it
certainly doesn’t end there. The result is a collection of 11 tracks of hard edged,
complicated music that redefines the boundaries of how jazz, classical and heavy
rock can all fit together, in a new refreshing way. Many of the tracks run together,
almost making this a concept piece. Points of reference would include KING CRIMSON
(in their most creative period…which is most of the time),
DJAM KARET
and maybe PINK FLOYD,
for the spacier parts.In a bio from the
band they state that DIVIDED SKY
is “fronted by an African-American singer/guitar
slinger which proves that rock music has no color barriers.” I once asked Mike
Henderson (another Afro-American guitar monster) of
DJAM KARET how a black man winds up
playing progressive music. “Cause I like the music” was his answer. Great answer…we
tend to forget one Jimi Hendrix,
who was certainly considered “progressive” in his own way and broke many musical
barriers.
OK…the music. The CD begins with “Spectral I”, a spacey tune with clanging guitars
in the background as a “calm before the storm.” But the resulting onslaught is not
your typical prog metal fare. This “intro” leads into track 2 “Grasp” with a Fripp-style
lead with a heavier riff as rhythm in the background. When the song gets to full
throttle, it quickly pulls back into an acoustic vibe with restrained vocals (as if
sung through a megaphone). The vocals remind me of Scott Stapp from Creed.
Please…only as a point of reference here, as the music is much better. Creed was
never this creative.
The rest of the CD’s diverse music moves effortlessly between oddly-metered prog
metal, acoustic-driven jazz and rock, and ethereal spacey moods, often within the
same song. And the mood of the vocals changes along with it. This is best
demonstrated on track 10, the four-part “Images.” Clocking in at over 10 minutes, it
shows the band at it most varied. Overall, this CD is amazing in its ability to keep
the listener’s attention, making you wonder what’s around the next corner. This is
music for the future…but we have it today! So, here’s hoping for a healthy musical
future for
DIVIDED SKY!
Rating: 9 keyboards out of 10
Reviewer - Bob Rosenthal
Web site:
www.dividedskymusic.com
E-mail:
Divided Sky
:
: Contact Information : :
Divided Sky
C/O Sean V. Crisden
P.O. Box 44158
Philadelphia, PA 19144
USA
Check out the Divided Sky MP3 " Grasp
"
available on our
MP3 page
Other -
Audio Downloads
: : DISCOGRAPHY : :
Spectral - 2002
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