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Review:
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Canadian four piece formation Red Sand previous release
was the DVD entitled Au Cabaret Du Liquor Store, I was very
pleased with their performance on stage and many times carried
away by the compelling parts, loaded with howling guitar
solos and majestic violin-Mellotron waves, the early Marillion
hints are obvious. - On their new album Music For Sharks
(a cynical concept about the music-industry, always a winner
to sublimate some anger into music, isn’t it, Fish?) Red
Sand still sounds like early Marillion (due to the wonderful
and moving guitarwork in the vein of Steve Rothery) but
the musical direction has moved more towards modern Pendragon,
also because singer Mathieu Lessand his voice sounds pretty
similar to Nick Barrett (with the same melancholical undertone).
And in comparison with their previous studio-album Human
Trafficking, to my delight I notice a more omnipresent role
of the keyboards. Especially the unsurpassed Mellotron can
be enjoyed in its full splendor in most of the five alternating
tracks, layered with emotional guitarplay by Simon Caron
(many compelling solos with the use of the tremolo-arm)
and exciting keyboardwork, also done by Simon Caron (from
church organ in Empty Calendar and a flashy synthesizer
solo and lush Mellotron in Love And Music to soaring keyboards
in Sad Song) The absolute highlight on this new CD is the
long composition Shark Man (more than 15 minutes): it starts
with angry vocals in a bombastic atmosphere with tight drums,
then lots of changing climates ( from dreamy with piano
and warm vocals to a mid-tempo with sensational work on
keyboards and guitar), culminating in a compelling build-up
and a great grand finale: a sensitive electric guitar solo,
accompanied by lush Mellotron and synthesizers, this is
Prog Heaven! - In my opinion Red Sand has made their most
mature and varied album, recommended!
www.progwalhalla.com
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