Originally this was a solo project by Mostly Autumn
keyboarplayer/composer Iain Jennings but after his first
eponymous debut album, he founded his own band, started
to tour and so the formation Breathing Space was born, including
Mostly Autumn background singer Viola Sparnenn.
During my first listening session I noticed that Iain
has made a very good choice to turn Olivia into a lead singer,
what a voice! She has an important role in the ten varied,
accessible and modern sounding compositions. In the more
mellow songs her warm voice matches perfectly with the wonderful
dreamy piano sound and the sensitive electric guitar runs.
In the more dynamic tracks Olivia delivers a powerful voice
that can compete with the bombastic keyboards and fiery
guitar like in the opener Coming Up For Air (nice mix of
rock guitar and electronic sounding synthesizers), When
I Hold On To You (bombastic organ and guitar) and The Senses
(tight mid-tempo with powerful saxophone solos). I am very
pleased with the the beautiful songs Don’t Turn A Blind
Eye (wonderful twanging acoustic guitar and strong slide
guitar sound), Searching For My Shadow (dreamy piano and
strings and warm vocals along howling guitar) and especially
the exciting and alternating final pice entitled Turn Of
The Tide: from mellow with twanging acoustic guitars like
early Genesis to a compelling atmosphere with dramatic vocals
and lush choir-Mellotron).
I am sure this tasteful, varied and professional sounding
album will please the Mostly Autumn fans and the fans of
modern prog!
www.progwalhalla.com
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