RICK WAKEMAN out there
		Format CD Country UK Recorded 2002 Issued 2003 Label Music Fusion Cat no. MFW6093X Playing time - Reviewer Sven Eriksen

After wandering around in very different musical landscapes in a decade, a journey which reached its all-time low with the terrible Live In Concert 2000, Rick Wakeman has gone a full circle, re-assembled the New English Rock Ensemble and produced a record with fresh prog rock. Energic and driving, melodic and catchy music full of Wakeman’s good, old sound trademarks; Hammond, Mellotron, Clavinet, piano, church organ and allsorts synths. It looks like the old gentleman has received a tremendous dose of vitamins, the music oozes vitality and playfullness.

Vocalist Damian Wilson sounds alternately like Jon Anderson and Ian Gillan, and the music also varies between relatively heavy riffs in Music Of Love to the more pompous and elegant melodies in To Believe You – the latter sounds almost like something out of Yes’ Drama (which Wakeman did not participate in), complete with choir and everything else needed.

The most pleasant surprise of it all is that Wakeman has managed to write good songs; riffs and melody lines really stick in your ear. Universe Of Sound sounds (perhaps a bit too much) like 80’s Yes with its hectic, somewhat stressful form and vocal, while we in The Cathedral Of The Sky are almost back in The Six Wives or Journey To The Centre of the Earth with its hints to classical music.

Out There is almost "Deep Purple Meets Yes". Heavy guitars and vocals together with Wakeman’s typical keyboard figures is actually quite a first class combination. And when they are accompanied by The English Chamber Choir, it gets quite overwhelming. It’s not far from being "over the top", but Wakeman manages easily to avoid the tastlessness which now and then has made its mark on his previous productions. He goes all the way, oh yes, but the final result is fun!

This is the record Yes haven’t made in twenty years.

© 2003 Tarkus Magazine

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