Crisis; Islands; Earth Moving; Heaven's Open
Mike Oldfield is a multi-instrumentalist who made his mark with the mega hit instrumental album Tubular Bells when he was only 17. Apparently, Oldfield became a practicing Catholic after nearly dying in a plane mishap, the subject of his song and album Five Miles Out. The lyrics on the four albums listed have spiritual themes, and you will probably enjoy his other, not listed, mostly instrumental albums as well. Some of his older albums have some fairly dark themes, however. Crisis features Jon Anderson, and is the most progressive. Islands will please those looking for subtle Christian lyrics with a long progressive instrumental track. Earth Moving has the most blatant lyrics (one song is clearly Catholic), and there are no instrumentals on it. Heaven's Open is pretty good, but suffers from Oldfield doing his own vocals. Someone needs to talk to him about that, and Hackett, and Howe as well, while they are at it. They could sell more records with a guest vocalist or two. If you've never heard Oldfield's music, it's generally symphonic instrumental stuff, heavy on keyboards and guitar textures, usually building on repetitive themes. His instrumental albums are all excellent. {dt}
White Horse; Adam Again
Omartian is a now big time record producer, having produced hit records by Rod Stewart, Christopher Cross and other artists, but once upon a time he was a solo artist. He released a number of solo Christian albums in the 80's, and a few with his fairly famous wife Stormie. Most of them were pretty standard CCM fare, but his album White Horse was a classic that contained some major prog elements. {dt}
The track White Horse is definetly 100% progressive, and one of the best songs ever written. The album in its entirety is perhaps more pop / rock oriented. {josef garvi}
Christian rock went high-tech with this producer/keyboardist's mainstream release White Horse, later picked up for the Christian market by Myrrh records. Artsy, progressive rock compositions with some pop hooks and contemplative moments, all with sparkling clean production giving synthesizer lovers plenty of opportunity to drool while cranking up their expensive stereos. Has remained a classic over the years, recently earning a deserved CD re-issue. The original Dunhill issue has a nice gatefold cover.Adam Again was a fine follow-up and retains a professional sound despite the lack of mainstream label attention this time. The progressive edge is less apparent, but instrumental solo excursions remain on the lengthy 'Alive And Well' and 'Here He Comes', the latter recounting the return of Christ "through the smog". Not quite the FM radio sound, but not really top 40 poprock either. Omartian's unique keyboard-driven rock finds a nice middle ground. Yes, it's orchestrated at times and yes there's even a disco tune 'Whatchersign', forgivable since 1) disco wasn't nauseating yet, and 2) it's good disco (I know I know oxymoron). Guitar whiz Larry Carlton graces a couple cuts. {one way}
Orphan Found (03)
Orphan Project was a delightful discovery for me, a beacon of light to the many fatherless children in this world. Powerhouse vocalist Shane Lankford put together this project, a heavy progressive concept album based on his own life story of being an orphan in search of his true identity. John Wenger, the other full time band member, wrote and arranged the music, which also features guest musicians on guitars, bass, drums, and stringed instruments. Musically, the album mixes heavy guitars, stark piano, bright violins and cellos, and Lankford's Peter Gabriel meets Eddie Vedder voice in a Kansas/Rabin-era Yes/Dream Theater musical stew. This album aint fluff, folks -- it's meat for the soul, the prodigal son story come to life in a way you've never heard it. The emotional songs burst from Lankford like his deep longing for his true Father, with conviction and introspection. Rarely have I heard a songwriter so succinctly blend his life and his faith into a cohesive musical concept that manages to remain fresh and evoke emotion and interest in the listener throughout the entire album. Reminding me a bit of Scenes from a Memory (Dream Theater) in scope, production, power and creativity, this record is top notch. Despite the somewhat unsettling underlying theme of loneliness and the search for identity, Lankford's solid faith that he'll one day meet his Father infuses each song with pregnant expectation and spiritual fulfillment. When he sings on See What He Sees
I'm reflecting on the coat you've wrapped around me, I recall what I've become, but I don't know what to do. There's so much I need to see like you see
you feel the heart of the prodigal beating as he runs home. When the chorus kicks in and he belts out in faith
You say you see a son when you look at me, so I try to see myself like you see me..
you don't have to be an orphan to find an emotional connection. The album takes you on a life journey from the cold crib of the orphanage to the embracing arms of True Love, and it delivers you there in a way that you can truly identify with. How many albums have you listened to lately that, if you really listen to the words, have the spiritual and emotional power to bring tears to your eyes on nearly every song? Add in the fact that the album rocks, the musicians are tight and talented, the production is top notch, and the singer can actually sing -- I can't recommend it highly enough. This album really touched me, and I have a feeling that it's going to be a part of my life for a long, long time. This is great stuff, and thankfully, the world is going to know about it, as they are on the verge of signing with a major label for distribution. You can pick their disc up at CDBaby. Find out more about Orphan Project, including lyrics and sound clips, on their nifty website. {dt 10/01}
Orphan Found review by Jon Rice, 1/06:
Orphan Project has been creating quite the buzz for awhile now. I was forwarded their debut CD “Orphan Found” from Bill Evans Media on a whim that I would enjoy
their brand of progressive rock…..Mr. Evans is a psychic! OP is a fresh and moving band that offers an inconspicuous message of hope, faith and searching
for one’s identity. Hailing from the Cprog (Christian Progressive Rock) genre, OP stand at the front line with such defining acts as Neal Morse, Ajalon and
Salem Hill.
“Orphan Found” is a concept album in the finest sense in that every passage fits together to form one cohesive story. Somewhat a biographical tale from vocalist
Shane Lankford’s past (an adoptee himself), the main character touches emotions ranging from elation to abject despair, from loss to delivery backed by some of
the most powerful music I have heard in years. The opening track, “Coming Into View I” introduces the main theme with a faultless instrumental movement and
concrete vocals from Lankford. OP actually pulls off setting the scene of birth as it is told from a point of view of an articulate child. Complete with sound
effects to position the listener in an orphanage, “Chosen One” chooses an upbeat bluesy feel to put aloft the notion of being chosen for a family. Tony
Correlli’s Hammond organ seems to breathe the tune to life with flourishes and wonderful foundational backdrop. This song also features one of the tastiest
David Gilmour-like guitar solos I have had the pleasure to hear. As the main character grows up, the questions build to a fever pitch. “Leaving My Seat at
the Table” culminates into the tug and pull of his adoptive parents and answering the questions that fuel his every thought. Crunchy and riff-laden
guitars punch out the angst behind the ardor. Theme II is a touching epiphany of finding a “real” Father that enables our orphan to begin to see his adopted
father. The pinnacle track (and my favorite) is one that I had been listening to for quite awhile (CPR II and a pre-release from their website – “Orphan
Found” is the more pop sounding piece and I am still loving it! The dynamics on this song are outstanding. It’s like the song could be an abstract for the
entire album. The strings are the frosting on the cake for this tune. Theme III brings our subject back to the “real” Father again in a marvelous opulence
of powerful guitars, tender pianos and beatific choir bring to a close a surprisingly inspirational project that struck a chord with me personally as I
have an adopted daughter from China. Very impressive first time out. (Jon Rice)
The digital revolution has made music publishing available to even the smallest of bands in the tiniest corner of the world, which in no small measure helped progressive rock survive the neglect of the music industry. Where would all those independent artists and bands be without the computer and the internet? Some of them even owe their status as professional musicians to sales and fan bases through the world wide web. Others remain small but you keep hearing from them from time to time. One of those small talented bands who now have the technology available to publish their music independently and you keep hearing from are Orphan Project. Their only problem now is time.
Already four years ago, Orphan Project surprised fans and critics with their highly acclaimed debut Orphan Found (2004). With their fresh mixture of Peter Gabriel, Kansas and Dream Theater (dubbed ‘hard prog’), they finally capitalized on years of experience in progressive and hard rock bands. Yet, after signing a record deal we heard ... nothing. That is to say, Orphan Project still showed up gigging in the area, and singer Shane Lankford joined forces with Visual Cliff on the album Into the After, and formed Fall of Echoes with Visual Cliff guitarist Rob Perez to record Red Tree (Trinity Records, 2006). This metal-ish detour clearly rubbed off on Orphan Project. But it was no successor to Orphan Found, much to the chagrin of founding member Shane Lankford.
This lull also resulted in changes of line-up, but after deciding to continue Orphan Project, they recorded their first tune in three years with the idea to release a new CD. This disc has now seen the light of day as an EP featuring four new tracks. Actually, it is three new tracks and a cover used as live encore favorite.
The first track, Angel's Desire, immediately marks a change in musical direction. Where Orphan Found distinctly had its romantic moments, Angel's Desire kicks in with rough-edged guitar hooks in a ‘Gabriel going metal’ vein. Lankford's singing is still one of the strongest features of Orphan Project’s sound, a dark, versatile and powerful voice, both in the harder verses and the more symphonic multi-vocal choruses. Their great rhythm section is highlighted here with all the changes in time signatures. Lankford’s lyric on this one is full of spiritual longing, desiring to be reunited with his heavenly father in life eternal.
Next up is My Goodness, turning to a more melodic side of Orphan Project’s sound. Though a catchy guitar riff weaves in and out, the main character of the song is in the mellower and very sing-able chorus decorated by a familiar violin (this time probably from a little box?). With insightful words about wrongdoing and redemption, My Goodness is a great driving song, a riveting example of hard prog.
The third track is the cover, Orphan Project's version of Another Brick in the Wall Part 2. At first sight, perhaps not a very original choice, although understandably a live crowd pleaser, Orphan Project really turns Pink Floyd’s classic inside out. The result is a very rich, energetic and varied brew, boasting spot-on solos in different musical styles, and even though it is a studio recording you can just see the guys having fun on stage. Far from superfluous, full of surprises.
Closer Empty Me is a heavy mid-tempo rock song, a prayer basically for comfort, starting out with a piano riff and featuring more keyboard work than the other tracks. It builds up to a beautifully high level, where Rob Tahan takes the spot with a soaring guitar solo. Maybe the track should not have been the last one on the disc, as after the sparkling Floyd cover it feels like the band already used up all its gunpowder. But that doesn’t make it a less decent tune. My only real complaint about the album is that it is so short: only 20 minutes?! (B Cusveller)
Outlander (01)
A tight progressive power trio ala Rush with killer chops, great progressive music, modern rock vocals, and spiritually minded lyrics. I've only heard the soundclips off their website thus far, so a more comprehensive review will have to wait. But what I did hear sounded great. A lot of folks have been talking about this one. You can buy the cd at cdbaby - here's the link (with sound clips) http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/outlander {dt}
Out of Darkness (1970, reissued on CD by Little Wing-1990); The Celebrated Club Sessions (Plankton-1994)
A very rare and highly sought after early Christian British progressive album led by Wray Powell on guitar and vocals. The London-based outfit were pretty competent musicians and the material on the album ranges from beat-psych through to jazz-blues. The highlights include the Jimi Hendrix-influenced Closing In On Me and Wings Of The Morning.
Out Darkness emerged in 1969 and were labelled the 'seminal Christian rock band'. Led by Hendrix clone Wray Powell the band forged a unique cocktail of Gospel, African music and heavy rock that proved to be an inspiration for many bands who were to hit it big in later years.
They cut a lone, eponymous album in 1970 with Key Records, (now intolerably rare) and played to increasingly enthusiastic crowds for several years, but having failed to secure a major recording contract they disbanded in 1974 and that was the end of that. The album was released on CD in 1990 by Little Wing Records out of Germany, supposedly available in the states from Little Wing Distribution P.O. Box 20031 Towson, MD 21284 {one-way}