An electric wind instrument opens "Rainforest," setting a
Braheny/
Roach mood. Along comes
Eddie Jobson-ish (
Theme of Secrets) rebounding synths and (Zinc) rhythmic sounds. Syncopated, ritualistic,
King Crimson lays the tribal aura on you as
PFM (
Photos of Ghosts) vocals invade briefly to fly away. Permeate all this with
Stan Whitaker/
Steve Hackett guitars as a superbly restrained beast about to lurch. That is just track one. The next track worthy of note is the 26:49 "Mirror Site I, II, and III." An extended musical investigation is launched into the Internet threat/impact on the psyche of virtual life. Mellotron synths,
PFM vocals, in the angst/introspective wail cover you as manic instrumental flights lure you into the cyberworld of despair. An infinite landscape swallows you -- the endless, listless ennui drains. Overdone theatrics? Perhaps -- but think back to
Voyage of the Acolyte. Excellent musicianship, imaginative, novel electronica and guitar fugues keep the listener's ennui at bay. Vocals reach
Peter Gabriel heights and tight-metered compositions recall
Birds of Fire and
Crafty Hands. "Mirror Site III" loses the vocals in a
Return to Forever/
Bill Connors fusion tribute. We waste away in
Varèse analog, electronic sputtering ad infinitum. Appropriate finish to a cyber tale. The other tracks on this CD are each pleasing in their own way and mesh nicely in a whole-album-concept tone. Listen for
Djam Karet,
Floyd,
Edgar Froese,
Yes,
Night Watch, and even
Seals & Crofts, because it's all there. A very '70s, "I-can't-stop-this-crazy-guitar-lead" album finale firmly rivets the prog rock label to
Cliffhanger.