REVIEW: Transatlantic, SMPTe (Radiant/Metal Blade)
- Scott Hudson
When Neal Morse (Spock's Beard) got a call from Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater) about the possiblity of doing a project together, not only were the wheels quickly set into motion, Transatlantic was born. The addition of bassist Pete Trewavas (Marillion) and guitarist Roine Stolt (Flower Kings) solidified this lineup of exceptionally talented musicians from both sides of the Atlantic. Their debut release, SMPTe is a prog/rock lovers dream.
"All Of The Above" in typical prog fashion clocks in at just over 30 minutes in length and is actually six tunes carefully meshed together amidst a frenzy of rapid-fire syncopations, stop-on-the-dime tempo changes and plenty of Wakemanesque keyboard flourishes. Of the six tunes, it is the haunting "October Winds" carried by Trewavas' melodic bass lines that stand out among the others.
"Mystery Train" is by far the best and most inspired track on this record. It also happens to be one of the shortest of the five tracks (at almost seven minutes), proving once again that good things come in small packages. Seriously, this song has a density and drive that makes it worth the price of the whole CD. The funky guitar and bass lines are augmented by thickly-synthesized strings. The song is also fresh; it doesn't hint at all to a rip-off of older prog dinosaurs, although the vocal harmonies are pleasantly reminiscent of King's X in their prime. "Mystery Train" is as good as contemporary prog gets.
"My New World" opens with beautifully arranged cellos. The song also tells a fascinating story about a lost love: boy meets hippie girl, boy goes off to Nam, girl gets more fried, relationship flounders when he comes home. Here, at least, the musical drama legitimately carries the story. In fact, one of the historically pervasive problems with prog was that the lyrical content seldom justified the thematic excesses. Here, the blend between words and music is finely meshed. An engrossing story, with some of the prettiest musical passages (including Stolt's lovely volume-knob guitar interlude, a la Steve Howe) on the record.
Those unfamiliar with the prog/rock genre or those who lack the discipline required to sit through its musical discourse would find Transatlantic's SMPTe to be not only palatable, but downright engrossing.
For those diehard prog-heads, never mind; you probably already own it!
