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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.

 

(Unitopia) - "The Garden"- (Joshua's Review)

Reviewed by:

Joshua "Prawg Dawg" Turner

Genre:
Prog
Country:
Australia
Length:
101:00 Minutes
Release Date:
October 27, 2008
Band Members:
Mark Trueack- Lead & Backing Vocals
Sean Timms- Keyboards, Acoustic Guitar, Backing Vocals
 
Matt Williams- Electric & Acoustic Guitars, Backing Vocals
Shireen Khemlani- Fretless & Fretted Basses
 
Mike Stewart (Soprano, Alto/Tenor/Percussion Saxs/Flute/Clarinet//Keys)
 
 
Monty Ruggiero- Drums
Tim Irrgang -Percussion, Bongos, Ocean Drum, Bell Tree & allsorts
 
Cd-1-(49:33)
Cd-2- (51:24)
     
Track Listing: 1.)-One Day- (2:27)
1.)- Journey's Friend-(16.28)
  2.)-The Garden- (22:35)
I)-Journeys Friend
  I.)- The Garden Of Unearthly Delights II.)-The End Of The Beginning
  II.) -The Dragons Lair III.)-The Need
  II.)- Underground IV.)-The Main Attraction
  IV.) -Realization V.)-The Path
  V.)-The Way Back Home 2). Give And Take- (5:09)
  3.)-Angeliqua- (9:50) 3.)- When I'm Down- (5:41)
  4.)- Here I Am (3:19)
4.)-This Life- (4:47)
  5.)-I Wish i Could Fly-(6:51) 5.)-Love Never Ends- (3:48)
  I.)- Amelias Dream 6.)-So Far Away- (2:11)
  II.)-I Wish i Could Fly 7.)-Don't Give Up Love- (7:49)
  6.)-Inside The Power (4:31) 8.)-"321"- (5:31)
     
     

Review:

It's quite surprising to see pure Progressive Rock on the SPV family of labels since that popular entity typically advocates material from the harsher realm of metal, or so it seems of late.***

Exclusionary riders aside, Unitopia is a great mix of soft and hard with various techniques morphing under their undulating pressure. While the music starts in pedestrian fashion, it dramatically improves over a short period of time. This increase in entertainment value is mostly due to a pace that exponentially quickens. Once they find their stride, they traverse both exhilarating cliffs and placid pastures on an epic journey of dissimilar landscapes; some recognizable and some terrifically unfamiliar.***

These compositions feature rock structures well placed within orchestral arrangements. To do so, they borrow from many influential artists and craftily mix them together. The resulting milieu is Frameshift meets Yes meets Jethro Tull meets Hourglass meets Puppet Show. When it's strictly brass and piano, it tends to borrow from Neal Morse's universe as well.***

One complaint: At times the soil's a little stiff, because they try too hard to harvest others' seed. For instance, "Here I Am" is blatantly Marillion. Rather than place so much focus elsewhere, it would pay for them to loosen loam by eradicating widespread rooted weeds. Then they would stand a chance of getting their own personal groove on. A reduction in derivation would also cause fewer distractions from déjà vu.***

On the bright side, Ed Unitsky has flamboyantly dyed the cover. Accordingly, he can add this CGI to a growing list of accomplishments. For the record, his registry already includes notorious acts such as Manning, Starcastle, and The Tangent. I love those bands and it seems Unitsky has the same tastes as me, or else he's just good at peddling his skills among my pet band brethren. Even if Unitopia were duped into using his colorful services, they are on the receiving end of a desirable bargain -- since the imagery on the mural looks absolutely grand.***

As if to play a round of name that tune, the material is eerily similar to D'Arcana's Premonitions. Ironically, Unitsky doodled on that, too.***

 

 

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