|
Some of us want to relive the past others just like the
texture of faded memory and use it to build on our current
experience to make our life richer for it. Celestial O’Euvre
belongs to the latter group. While their album ironically
titled “Second Chance” does contain echoes of prog bands from
before (particularly the 70’s and early 80’s) the band’s power
chord guitar riffs, soaring choruses create a distinct feel
good vibe (there’s the 70’s again in that infamous word).
If you’re a fan of early 80’s arena prog rock as represented
by Trevor Rabin’s edition of Yes than Celestial O’Euvre will
appeal to you. ***
The album gets off to a subdued but fascinating start
with “Zeitgeist” where the band creates a vortex of sound
surrounding the lead singer. Certainly there are elements
of the Rabin edition of Yes, Gentle Giant with a hint of Dream
Theater power chords below the rumblings of the opening track
but these influences blossom on the second track “Black Hower”.
These guys aren’t spring chickens so they clearly lived through
very era that influences their music which makes it less imitation
and more homage. Lead singer Joe Acaba has a pleasing voice
that recalls Jon Anderson’s which is interesting because Acaba
grew up in the Caribbean showing that music does, indeed,
have no geographical boundaries. Keyboard player Jose Damien
who cofounded the band with Acaba dominates the second track
with his Keith Emerson like playing. Interestingly Damien’s
pantheon of rock gods veers from what you’d expect (Yes, the
Beatles) to the unexpected (Earth, Wind and Fire which I suppose
we could call the prog funk band of its time much like Paraliment).
This musical polymath plays everything from every sort of
guitar known to man to the characteristic keyboards that decorate
every track. ***
The lovely “Off the Rails” with its layered vocals breaks
open with the propelling by the thumping drums of Hector Lopez
before falling into the rich middle section highlighted by
Damien’s bright melodic keyboard work and Acaba’s soaring
lead vocal. While drummer Lopez’s influence is clearly Neil
Pert with his precise drumming style he uses percussion as
much more than a decorative shading for the songs using his
instrument to drive the band’s songs preventing them from
becoming too bombastic. Other memorable tracks include “Courage”
a lovely piano based ballad. “Stones of Beauty” is powered
by guitarist Joe Nardulli’s playing. Nardulli’s playing is
a highlight of the album with solos that are sharp, melodic
but don’t overwhelm the material. ***
The album closes with the oldest song composed by Jose
Damien and Charlie De Jesus shortly after he met Joe Acaba
in the mid-70’s. Damien plays guitar on this track recreating
the original solo dreamed up by the late Charlie De Jesus
when the two first wrote the track. If you’re a fan of late
70’s and early 80’s prog than Celestial O'Euvre’s “Second
Chance” will be well worth your time. Lend Celestial O'Euvre
your ears and they’ll play you a song with a rich melody.
|
