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Review:
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This new solo CD by Don Airey was recommended to me
by a friend (thanks Paul) with whom I share a love for vintage
keyboards. I have always been a fan of Don Airey who once
joined ‘symphonic jazzrock’ formation Colosseum II, who
joined Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow (I was lucky to witness
a concert in Rotterdam in the early Eighties), who was a
guest on the interesting progressive Cozy Powell solo albums
and who is nowadays a respected keyboardplayer in Deep Purple.
During my first listening session I concluded very quickly
that my friend his words were true, what an exciting and
varied album featuring mindblowing work on the Hammond organ
and Grand piano!
As a huge fan of the very distinctive Hammond organ
I was blown away by the Don Airey let his Hammond organ
moan and groan and scream during swirling solos in Ripples
In The Fabric Of Time, Space Troll Patrol, Endless Night
and A Light In The Sky Pt.2. But also a big hand for his
vituosic work on the Grand piano like in Love You Too Much
(wonderful ballad with warm vocals), Sombrero M104 (sparkling
with flamenco hints), Into Orbit (swirling duet with a violin)
and the strongly build-up final song Lost In The End Of
Time (beautiful interplay between electric guitar and a
melancholical violin). And what a variety: Rainblow-like
Heavy Prog with powerful vocals in Shooting Star (Hammond
sound like Jon Lord and a flashy Minimoog synthesizer solo
with pitchbend) and A Light In The Sky Pt.2, ‘rockabilly’
(in the vein of The Strays Cats) with Hammond organ in Rocket
To the Moon, fiery guitar with a jazzy Fender Rhodes elektric
piano in Big Crunch and ambient keyboard sounds in several
short songs like Big Bang, Lift Off and Metallicity.
Especially during the 12 instrumental tracks Don Airey
showcases his impressive skills on a wide range of keyboards,
what an exciting, well balanced and ... very progressive
album!
www.progwalhalla.com
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