GALLEON

Imagine for a brief moment that the CD here isn't in fact by Galleon. No, for the sake of my indulgence, let us speculate what the sound of Dream Theater playing Tangerine Dream songs in the style of Sieges Even would be like. In fact, Joe Satriani popped in to guest on a couple of solos too. Got it? Right, that's this CD in a nutshell. Not a bad thing by any stretch. Not quite the Rush influence I was expecting by reading the notes that came with this CD. Still, that's my fault for relying on expectations. The only unusual choice of this imaginary supergroup is to invite someone to do a Roger Waters/Franz Herde impression in Swedish. Actually, that's not fair as the combination, as weird as it sounds, fits the music well enough. It just could be grander, based on the level of musicianship on display. No matter, to the songs then. Opener 'A.I.' is a lovely Satriani-esque mini-epic instrumental; awash with delicate flashes of processed guitar leads. Follower 'The Assemblers' is the most likely to get radio airplay with its instant appeal and definite hooks. However, the best track is by far the title track. There are so many emotional twists and turns going on that you expect to be swamped. But this isn't an overtly technical exercise in confusion. Each section follows the other effortlessly, and without jarring the listener. The first of the truly epic tunes, the nine-plus minute 'Men and Monsters' doesn't quite work for me. Seemingly, the jazz influences took slightly too much of a hold on this one. However, all is forgiven by the final epic, closer 'Lightworks'. A glorious firework display of an ending.

LABEL:

FORMAT:

Progress Records

Album

ENGINES OF CREATION

Review by Steve Cowan

RUNNING TIME:

57:40

RELEASE DATE:

7th Nov 2007

TRACK LISTING

1) A.I.
2) The Assemblers
3) Signals
4) Engines of Creation
5) State Insane
6) Fog City
7) The Cinnamon Hideaway
8) Men and Monster
9) Machine Mother
10) Lightworks

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

Sweden

"...let us speculate what the sound of Dream Theater playing Tangerine Dream songs in the style of Sieges Even would be like. In fact, Joe Satriani popped in to guest on a couple of solos too. Got it? Right, that's this CD in a nutshell."