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K2 is a prog rock band/project
by bassist/writer Ken Jaquess and 'BOOK OF THE DEAD' is a
concept album dealing with the ancient Egyptian Book Of The
Dead, weighty subject matter indeed, though oddly not much
on this disc sounds remotely 'Egyptian' at all. The concept
deals with death and the journey into the afterlife, but the
lyrics and vocals never really come out to take you on that
journey. I didn't find anything particularly dark or mysterious
here, but the musicianship seems to take priority over any
concept here. ***
This is prog-rock which goes through
the usual tricks: moog solos, a side-long track, and another
Peter Gabriel clone. Predictable yes, but there are spme saving
graces. Allan Holdsworth is the featured guitarist, and provides
his unique brand of jazzy fretwork so fluid it sounds as if
notes are dripping out of every orifice of his being. He always
impresses. Keys are by Spocks' Ryo Okumoto provides some classic
sounding boardwork, but doesn't overdo it either. The wild
card here is some tasty violin work, though doubled-up with
Holdsworth's violin-like guitar solos, sometimes one might
lose track of what's violin and what's guitar. ***
As far as the vocals go, vocalist
Shaun Guerin(who sadly died shortly after recording) seems
to be channeling classic Genesis era Peter Gabriel circa Foxtrot
or Selling England by the Pound. That moves the project into
a neo-prog direction, while the synth solos tend to give the
flavor of Patrick Moraz or a lot of jazz-rock fusion. Nice
'clicky' Rickenbacker-style bass guitar too. As far as the
inevitable comparisons to U.K. go, I would say it's in there,
but mildly. Holdsworth plus a violinist doesn't make it necessarily
U.K., and that plus a Peter Gabriel clone makes it something
else altogether. U.K. had well written songs, not just jazzy
noodling and violin, and John Wetton sounded like himself,
not like one of his contemporaries. Violinist Yvette Devereaux
plays beautifully, but lacks the edge of Eddie Jobson. Better
to judge this work on it's own merit. Devereaux is slightly
underused as well, maybe next time K2 can include her a little
more. As a sheet of atmospheric music, this works, but U.K.
had the right songs and the right feel. This isn't quite there
yet. There are moments that recall U.K. though, mostly short
instrumental spurts.***
Here are the tracks:
INFINITE VOYAGE:
The longest track here at 23:25.
The middle section's got some real classy Holdsworth soloing.
There's some U.K. moments and some Genesis, instrumentally
speaking, blended with a touch of symphonic rock sound.
MIRROR TO THE SPIRITS:
The organ and Gabriel sounding
vocals make this one a dead ringer for Scottish neo band CITIZEN
CAIN. Listen to GHOST DANCE(1996) or SOMEWHERE BUT YESTERDAY(1994)
if you have those from back in the dark and distant 90's.
But Holdsworth keeps it from going too Neo with amazing guitar
runs.
THE EDGE OF LIGHT:
Violin is more prominent here,
and the rhythm section over a mellotron foundation and organ
stabs is quite effective. The synth solo recalls Camel or
Wakeman at his best, enough to space you out if there had
been more of it
ATEN (Window Of Appearances):
This shortest track is one of the best musical bits on the
album- a reflective bass solo over a hovering bed of ethereal
synths. I can't help but think Yes influence here, but more
like a Peter Banks style- what it would sound like if Banks
had played bass in the jazzy style he plays guitar. What do
you think?
CLOAK OF ANTIQUITY:
The drums, which were good but
not as noticable until now, really come forward on this one.
On this final track, K2 seemingly throw in the kitchen sink
and pretty much revisit all the styles they had employed through
the course of the album. Lots of prog textures. The tracks
stops with Holdsworth noodling to the very end. It's interesting
to hear him outside the context of jazz-rock fusion once again.
K2 is a welcome addition to the
collection of any Holdsworth enthusiast or anyone who fetishes
anything smacking of Peter Gabriel dressed up in a fox costume.
It's a little of this and that, and one of those prog discs
that you can unwind to.
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