Artist: Spock's Beard
Label: Inside Out Records
Release: 2003
Rating: 3.5/5
Let’s get to the heart of it right away. The Neal Morse case! The man who left the band at a moment when it was almost impossible to see coming. Was that a good thing? Yes and no. Not for those of you who can’t survive without his way of singing, because the vocals are the piece that, logically, took the biggest hit in Spock’s Beard’s music after Neal’s departure. Personally, though, I don’t miss Neal at all this time around. Unbelievable, because along with the vocals, Spock’s Beard changed their musical style too. They got heavier.
Nick D’Virgilio, Spock’s Beard’s drummer (also of eighties pop icons Tears For Fears), who has now taken over lead vocal duties as well (and found his feet in the role brilliantly, improvisation included), is currently the best solution for Spock’s Beard. The opener Onomatopoeia, an utterly new-age-grooved track with dirty guitar distortion that Alan Morse never really used in the past, is a genuine surprise, and it’s hard to picture the pathos-drenched Neal on vocals here. So the first plus is that the lyrics have shed Neal’s pathos about searching for angels of salvation and become more down-to-earth in the verses. The same goes for the musical style. Spock’s Beard have gotten a bit more compact. Sure, the motif switches are still swarming all over the place, but the general feeling is that “Feel Euphoria” is much easier on the ears than “Snow” (2002) on a first spin (which doesn’t mean it sticks in your head after one listen), while also packing a nice dose of distorted liveliness, which wasn’t exactly the band’s habit. In the second part of the epic A Guy Named Sid, called Same Old Story, the guys indulge in a few minutes of Deep Purple-style seventies hard rock, especially with the pulsing layering of Ryo’s Hammond lines, creating a grandiose, impenetrable wall of sound. And of course, as Beatles worshippers, they couldn’t resist nodding to the legends again through the motifs in the outstanding The Bottom Line and on into Shining Star. The fusion lives on, and Spock’s Beard haven’t lost an ounce of glory with the new record. They adapted in the best possible way. They breathed deep, and by writing the arrangements together, all four members opened the door to experimenting in a fresh, different way. There’s more “electronics” with us too. Feel Euphoria is a track that truly gives you that euphoric feeling. Tasteful computer drum samples play an important role in it, reinforced by Ryo’s psychedelic keyboard excursions and wild Alan guitar solos I’m really not used to, and an exceptional atmosphere is captured within. A waltz led by fretless bass and, for that reason, an excellent contrast called Shining Star follows. It’s a calm piece that dreamily swings the feel of the record in a completely different direction. The real prog shot, though, will hit your own reception centers with East Of Eden, West Of Memphis, with its frothing keyboard-and-guitar cross-knitting toward the end, not to mention the assorted delights offered by the epic lesson that is A Guy Named Sid (made up of six parts). It’s the absolute peak of the record and offers exactly what the one-of-a-kind Spock’s Beard have always been: a prog fusion of seventies rock and today’s new-wave inventions, with a pinch of jazz. This time too, the guys didn’t forget to sprinkle some spice over the compositions with a mini wind orchestra, violas, cello… but compared to “Snow” you can feel a shift away, as Spock’s Beard no longer lean so much toward orchestral directives.
Every Spock’s Beard fan surely has Feel Euphoria already. The unexpected loss of the charismatic Neal, which truly nobody saw coming, spontaneously aired the band out, and they passed the test with flying colors. All the trembling about what would become of them was completely unnecessary. Spock’s Beard have cleverly adapted their musical expression. Spock’s boys sound and kick harder, more rowdy and livelier than ever before, while still serving spoiled ears another heaping helping of fusion, unpredictable twists and a record full of sound. Guys, welcome home again!
Lineup
Nick D’Virgilio – lead vocals, drums, percussion
Ryo Okumoto – Hammond organ, Mellotron
Dave Meros – bass guitar, backing vocals
Alan Morse – guitar, backing vocals
GUEST MUSICIANS:
Claire Pasquale – trumpet, piccolo trumpet on “Carry On”
Gina Ballina – horn on “Carry On”
Steve Velez – cello on “Carry On”
J’Anna Jacoby – violin on “Carry On”
John Boegehold – additional synthesizers & sampling
Production
Spock’s Beard
Track List
1. Onomatopoeia (5:16)
2. The Bottom Line (7:33)
3. Feel Euphoria (7:20)
4. Shining Star (4:06)
5. East Of Eden, West Of Memphis (7:05)
6. Ghosts Of Autumn (6:53)
7. A Guy Named Sid:
pt. I – Intro (3:02)
pt. II – Same Old Story (4:25)
pt. III – You Don’t Know (3:11)
pt. IV – Judge (3:20)
pt. V – Sid’s Boys Choir (1:09)
pt. VI – Change (5:16)
8. Carry On (5:20)
Album running time: 63:58
SPECIAL EDITION INCLUDES:
9. Moth Of Many Flames (2:49)
10. From The Messenger (7:27)
