| Review: |
In the booklet Martin Orford writes that “this is not
a progressive rock album”, “it’s unashamedly retro” and “you
may think that world has gone forever, but it’s still there
if you know where to find it. And I have – I am on the old
road”.***
Well, as a huge fan of Seventies Classic Progrock and
IQ with the Peter Nicholls line-up, I am very pleased with
this very tastefully arranged and varied solo album that hosts
a wide range of known progrock musicans like Nick D’Virgilio,
Dave Meros, Gary Chandler, John Wetton and fellow IQ member
Mike Holmes. The sound on The Old Road alternates between
melodic rock (Take It To The Sun and Out In The Darkness),
a warm solo piece on piano and keyboards (beautiful classically
inspired Prelude) and dreamy climates with acoustic guitars
and soaring keyboards (Ray Of Hope and Endgame) to compositions
that are obvisously drenched into the compelling IQ sound
featuring intense Mellotron waves, howling electric guitar
runs, Moog Taurus bass pedals and flashy synthesizer flights,
especially Grand Designs and The Time And The Season, what
a joy! Guitarplayer John Mitchell does a very good job, often
in the vein of Mike Holmes with many powerful and moving solos
and great interplay with the keyboards like in Power And Speed
delivering mighty Hammond organ and propulsive guitar riffs
(along an outstanding jazzrock-oriented synthesizer solo).
My highlight on this album is the alternating titletrack,
from a dreamy intro with twanging acoustic guitar and warm
vocals to slow rhythms and bombastic eruptions with majestic
violin – and choir-Mellotron eruptions and great interplay
between Hammond organ and dynamic drums.***
My conclusion: Martin Orford has pleasantly surprised
me and I am sure that many progheads will be too!
www.progwalhalla.com
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