Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Unitopia
Label: Inside Out Records
Release: 2008
Running time: 101:03
Rating: 5/5
Unitopia are an Australian progressive rock band that formed back in 1996, but it took them nine years to put out their debut album, “More Than a Dream” (2005). It was well received, but only by a tiny circle of listeners. With “The Garden”, released on the long-established German label Inside Out, known for its tireless backing of the progressive rock scene, especially bands clearly influenced by the classic symphonic prog of the 70s, the band should finally reach a wider audience too.
They more than deserve it, because “The Garden” is, no exaggeration, one of the loveliest surprises prog rock had to offer in 2008. It’s a grandiose blend of the best elements of 70s symphonic prog, carrying on the legacy of genre legends like Genesis and Yes, with some stretches that also sound related to modern prog revivalists like The Flower Kings and Spock’s Beard. With one important difference from the latter: Unitopia have a strongly pronounced British flavor in their sound. On top of that, most of their symphonic-tinged arrangements and vocal harmonies sound way more heartfelt and hit the listener’s emotions much easier than many creations by the Scandinavians or Americans, who are usually technical grandmasters but often weak when it comes to conveying the lyrical and emotional sides of individual compositions.
That warmth and heart, which never runs out in their songs, is largely down to the theatrical, charismatic voice of Mark Trueack, whose timbre sits somewhere between Gary Brooker (Procol Harum) and Peter Gabriel (ex-Genesis), while neo prog fans will probably think of Peter Nicholls (IQ) first. So Mark cultivates the vocal approach that has always been the most popular in prog and has the most imitators, except that Mark doesn’t try to copy his famous role models, and every now and then he’s not shy about adding his own vocal colors too. On “The Garden”, Unitopia deliver progressive rock at its finest, with beautiful symphonic arrangements backed by outstanding instrumental chops, superb vocal harmonies and unpredictable twists that can surprise and entertain the listener on every repeat listen.
“The Garden” is an extremely ambitious project, a collection of 14 tracks spread over two CDs, and despite its considerable length it manages to keep the quality remarkably high the whole way through. Though many would expect it, this isn’t a concept album, but a collection of individual lyrical themes tied together by a related motif of spiritual cleansing, or catharsis, that comes after severe trials. The incredible variety between the individual pieces, which differ hugely in length (from two minutes to over twenty), is one of the greatest strengths of “The Garden”. Even though the emphasis is on symphonic prog rock elements, Unitopia explore additional dimensions within jazz rock fusion, world music, folk rock, hard rock and progressive metal, which enriches their music enormously and sets it apart from the typical symphonic prog revivalism we’re usually served by most similar bands.
The individual musicians are outstanding instrumental perfectionists who also have a quiet knack for crafting highly melodic arrangements, and they’d rather devote themselves to team spirit than show off their solo skills. The instruments used on this album are a small ocean, and every one of them is used to the fullest, with superb effect. The huge variety between the tracks and within their structures is more than impressive.
To name just a few of the standout tracks (though every single piece on the album deserves the attention of prog rock gourmets), let’s start with the opener, the romantic ballad “One Day”, which begins on piano with Mark’s melancholic singing and sounds a lot like one of Procol Harum’s legendary ballads. Right after it comes the complete opposite: the title track, an epic of more than 22 minutes, an extremely complex composition made up of rich orchestral arrangements, tribal percussion rhythms, pastoral flute passages and jazzy saxophone finesse, melodic guitar lines and much more.
Throughout it all, Untiopia keep up a high dose of melodicism and never get tangled up in any obscure improvisations. “Anguelique” is another excellent example of a track where the band blends totally different genres in a remarkably refined and fluid way. It opens as a folk rock love ballad with lavish symphonic arrangements, then the arrival of Spanish guitar, percussion and female backing vocals carries it into ethnic waters. That’s followed by equally brilliant solo pieces on Hammond organ, saxophone and guitar. On a track like “I Wish I Could Fly”, with enchanting pastoral flute passages, gorgeous orchestral arrangements and slide guitar, they show off an uncommon level of subtlety that you won’t find in most modern prog rock bands. Also worth mentioning is the album’s second epic, the 16-minute-plus “Journey’s Friend”, which brings in elements of progressive metal, hard rock and jazz rock fusion.
As for the lyrics, the album is lyrically quite strong through the first half, but after that it gets slightly generic on that front. The excessive dive into love themes quickly slides into pretty worn-out lyrical clichés. Unitopia are, as their name suggests, idealists, closer in philosophy to Yes and The Flower Kings than to, say, King Crimson and Porcupine Tree.
“The Garden” is a magnificent album that every true prog devotee will enjoy from start to finish. It’s one of the very few prog rock albums released in 2008 that I’d dare say will eventually earn cult status, if not outright masterpiece billing. It’s a grandiose, consistent piece of work full of twists, surprises and gorgeous arrangements – something is always happening, and in a wonderfully fluid, hypnotic way. “The Garden” sounds mighty and mystical at the same time. It’s also hugely entertaining and has absolutely no needless padding or filler of the kind prog revivalists usually lean on for one reason or another. Throughout the listen you can feel that the musicians enjoyed writing these compositions immensely, that it was made in a very positive atmosphere, and that they truly believe in their mission. Unitopia have created one of the most beautiful progressive rock fairy tales of recent years, one that every fan of symphonic prog should experience as pure bliss. With it, the up-and-coming Aussies have proven they deserve their place among the best bands of the modern prog rock scene, and that we can expect nothing but top quality from them in the future.
Line-up
Mark Trueack – vocals
Matt Williams – guitar, backing vocals
Sean Timms – keyboards, backing vocals, acoustic guitar, mandolin, banjo, percussion
Amanda Timms – flute
Shireen Khemlani -bass guitar
Monty Ruggiero – drums
Tim Irrgang – percussion
Production
Unitopia
Track list
CD1:
1. One Day
2. Garden
3. Angeliqua
4. Here I Am
5. I Wish I Could Fly
6. Inside The Power
CD2:
1. Journey’s Friend
2. Give And Take
3. When I’m Down
4. This Life
5. Love Never Ends
6. So Far Away
7. Don’t Give Up Love
8. 321
