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Progland was founded by John Gabbard in 2005. It's purpose has been to provide you, the music community with the latest music and dvd reviews. It will continue to be your link to the most popular music reviews in the progressive world.

 

Celestial O'euvre - Second Chance

Label - Self release
Reviewed by: Wayne Klein
Genre: Prog Rock
Country: USA
Language: English
Length: 60:38
Release Date: 2005
Label:
Self release
Band Members: Joe Acaba Vocals Jose Damien Keyboards, Guitars
  Joe Nardulli Guitars Hector Lopez Drums
 
Track Listing: 1.)- Zeitgeist 8.)-Stones Of Beauty
  2.)-Black Flower 9.)-Second Chance
  3.)- Off The Rails 10.)-Touch
  4.)- Courage  
  5.)- To Be Alone  
  6.)-Riding The Brakes  
  7.)In The Water  
     
The Review

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.

 

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