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░ ██ ██ Artist: The Samurai of Prog ██ ██
▓ █░░ ■█ Album: On We Sail █■ ░░█
■ █▓▀ █ Year: 2017 █ ▀▓█ ░
█ ▓ Rel. Date: 2017-11-11 ▓ █
▒ ▒ Genre: Progressive Rock ▒ ▒
█▄ ░ Label: Seacrest Oy ░ ▄█
░ █▄ ░ Source: CD ░ ▄█
░ █▓ Type: Album ▓█ ░
▓ █ Quality: VBR, 44.1kHz, Joint Stereo █ ░ ▓
▓ █ █ ░ ▓
▄ ■ ■ ▓ ■
░█ █░ ▀
█ It's amazing how The Samurai Of Prog have █
█ maintained such a fast-paced activity in █
█ recording, without wearing out in the artistic █
█ sense. While the double album Lost and Found █
█ (2016), based on unrealeased prog compositions of █
█ the 70's bands mostly from North America, is █
█ actually still demanding more listening rounds -- █
█ I've had some feelings of tiredness with that one █
█ --, the multi-national prog-Gasthaus have now █
█ released their most mature work. This is a █
█ beautiful and perfectly balanced 65-minute set of █
█ finely crafted symphonic prog. That's right: █
█ symphonic. Don't always trust the given sub-genre. █
█ If you're still new to this band that originally █
█ was "only" a project for covers of well known prog █
█ classics, now is a perfect moment to jump on █
█ board. █
█ I was unsure whether I should do some research on █
█ the key-playing composers unfamiliar to me, but █
█ I'll leave that up to you. 'On We Sail' is written █
█ by Kerry Shacklett. Lyrics and vocal melodies are █
█ by TSOP's vocalist-violinist-flautist Steve █
█ Unruh). There are classic prog elements hinting at █
█ Kansas, ELP, Yes and Genesis. Unruh (perhaps █
█ comparable to Tommy Eriksson of Ageness) is not my █
█ favourite vocalists in contemporary prog, but on █
█ this album his slightly nasal voice is not █
█ overused. 'Elements of Life', composed by Octavio █
█ Stampalia (Jinetes Negros), is a very dynamic, █
█ tempo-shifting track with an emphasis on █
█ instrumental power. █
█ 'Theodora' is composed by Luca Scherani and sung █
█ by Michelle Young. She has a beautiful voice to █
█ match with the excellent playing. Not necessarily █
█ a highlight for me as a composition, but highly █
█ dynamic, as always with TSOP. The edginess is █
█ rounded by a soft ending featuring flute. █
█ 'Ascension' is an instrumental written by David █
█ Myers. Wonderful melodies for analog synthesizers █
█ (reminiscent of Willowglass), flute etc. Fresh, █
█ lively - simply lovely! 'Ghost Written' is █
█ composed by Sean Timms, dueted with Unruh by Mark █
█ Trueack (Unitopia / United Progressive █
█ Fraternity). Lots of violin and flute. 'The █
█ Perfect Black' is a melodic, slightly █
█ Hackett-reminding instrumental composed by █
█ Oliviero Lacagnina. The inclusion of fine █
█ instrumentals is indeed an essential strength of █
█ this album. Aforementioned Shacklett returns as a █
█ composer and multi-instrumentalist on the █
█ warm-hearted song 'Growing Up'. 'Over Again' is █
█ David Myers' sensitive piece for solo piano. The █
█ final track 'Tigers' was composed by Stefan █
█ Renstr÷m (one of the TSOP collabrators that passed █
█ away before the release of this album). 10╜ █
█ minutes of passionate prog sung by Daniel FΣldt. █
█ I confess: it was today that I received this █
█ album, but I've been listening to it again and █
█ again already. I think this is going to be among █
█ the finest prog releases of 2017. A strong █
█ recommendation!! █
█ █
█ --- █
█ █
█ The Samurai Of Prog are definitely a modern █
█ æProgressive Rock EnigmaÆ. There is a uncanny █
█ ability among its members to celebrate progressive █
█ rocksÆ past while appealing to a modern more █
█ current audience with more contemporary elements █
█ that make for their unique sound. Last year in █
█ 2016 I was introduced to this Progressive Rock █
█ Enigma by Marty Dorfman at House Of Prog. It █
█ turned out to be one of the best introductions I █
█ have had with a pure progressive rock band in the █
█ past 20 years. What I heard defied some of my █
█ expectations as to what a progressive rock band █
█ could do. █
█ When Steve Unruh sent me the promotion copy of █
█ Lost And Found I was floored by the physical █
█ presentation of the packaging. It was at that █
█ moment I noticed that this band was very different █
█ from where their contemporaries were and are. It █
█ may of been a CD , however it certainly opened in █
█ the way a gatefold would with a vinyl experience. █
█ The individual discÆs even had their very own █
█ sleeves within the fold out jacket as a whole. The █
█ very detail in their packaging and physical █
█ representation translated very well into the music █
█ itself. My review for The Samurai Of Prog Lost And █
█ Found can be found HERE █
█ Where Lost And Found was older music dusted off █
█ the shelf and reworked, re-recorded and █
█ remastered, On We Sail is a album of all brand new █
█ material. On We Sail on the surface gives you the █
█ appearance that it might be a conceptual work, █
█ however the 9 songs on the album are more set to a █
█ common theme or thread throughout the album. Once █
█ again Marco Bernard, Steve Unruh and Kimmo Porsti █
█ have gathered together a all star cast ensemble of █
█ world class musicians as noted above in the æGuest █
█ MusicianÆsÆ roster. On We Sail also sees the band █
█ bring both its progressive rock influences such as █
█ Jethro Tull ,Gentle Giant, Yes, Camel, Caravan, █
█ Renaissance on the early end. On the modern end █
█ there are influences from 1980Æs Neo Progressive █
█ Rock with the likes of Marillion, IQ, Galahad, █
█ Pallas, Pendragon and Enchant. █
█ █
█ The Samurai of Prog seem to know what they want in █
█ album art and never shy away from recruiting top █
█ artists in the progressive rock art genre. One █
█ name that has remained synonymous with The Samurai █
█ Of Prog has been Ed Unitsky. I remember when I █
█ reviewed Lost And Found last year how utterly █
█ accurate Ed Unitsky captured both the bandÆd █
█ personality and their personalities in █
█ relationship to the music on the double album. Ed █
█ Unitsky is easily in the same conversation with █
█ the likes of Roger Dean and Storm Thorgerson as █
█ one of the definitive progressive rock album █
█ artists of the past 50 years. Once again Ed █
█ Unitsky has captured the personality and mood of █
█ The Samurai Of ProgÆs On We Sail perfectly like he █
█ always has. The packaging is almost too gorgeous █
█ to open. █
█ When you open The Samurai Of ProgÆs On We Sail it █
█ is a 6 panel digipak style with the exception that █
█ the plastic tray has been replaced with a very █
█ fine mini jacket sleeve much in the tradition of a █
█ vinyl album. When you remove the CD it even share █
█ the same spirit and tradition of a vinyl release █
█ in a otherwise digitally handicapped musical █
█ atmosphere. With the lyrical content on the album █
█ having a heavy nautical theme throughout it, Ed █
█ Unitsky has perfectly and tastefully captured that █
█ in a moment in time that will help preserve the █
█ albums integrity and eventual legacy. █
█ █
█ The Common Nautical Thread █
█ The listener does not have to look into it too █
█ much to realize that The Samurai Of ProgÆs On We █
█ Sail has a common theme through it. This is a █
█ heavy nautical theme. Although there is not a main █
█ concept, each song is a representation of what the █
█ band want to convey to the listener. The listener █
█ also hears something new or something different █
█ with every listen due to the multiple instruments █
█ and melodic layers. Let us now journey into The █
█ Samurai Of ProgÆs On We Sail with a track to track █
█ analysis. █
█ █
█ On We Sail █
█ Music û Kerry Schaklett █
█ Lyrics & Vocal Melodies û Steve Unruh █
█ Marco Bernard û Rickenbacker Bass , Kimmo Porsti û █
█ Drums & Percussion , Steve Unruh û Vocals/Violin , █
█ Kerry Schacklett û Keyboards, Srdjan Brankovic û █
█ Electric Guitars █
█ This one opens up with a beautifully done vintage █
█ style synth with modern neo progressive rock █
█ elements. Soon the deep rhythm section of bass and █
█ drums adds to the deepening layers the band █
█ utilizes through out the song and the album. Soon █
█ heavy melodies of violin come into the mix. The █
█ instrumental melodies really jump out with brief █
█ breaks to allow the composition to breathe. Soon a █
█ Gentle Giant style vocal comes in perfect harmony █
█ and melody with the instrumental backdrop. The █
█ violin enters in and soon provides even more █
█ layers to the song. The instrumental soloÆs are █
█ very deeply rooted a more neo progressive mindset. █
█ The guitar soloÆs really allow the track to gel █
█ with this heavily stringed section composition. █
█ Some of the guitar work reminds me a lot of Steve █
█ Howe meets Ronnie Stolt of the Flower Kings. █
█ █
█ Elements Of Life █
█ Music û Octavio Stampalia █
█ Lyrics û Steve Unruh █
█ Marco Bernard û Rickenbacker Bass , Kimmo Porsti û █
█ Drums & Percussion , Steve Unruh û █
█ Vocals/Violin/Flute , Octavio Stampalia û █
█ Keyboards , Ruben Alvarez û Electric & Acoustic █
█ Guitars █
█ This one has a very unique isolated flute to open █
█ up the track. The isolated flute reminding me more █
█ of Camel with a little bit of Jethro Tull in it. █
█ The flute also adding a more classical music █
█ imprint. Soon the song takes a more lush █
█ orchestral direction before the deeper warmer bass █
█ comes in both as a melodic and rhythmic █
█ instrument. The track itself has a deep classical █
█ musical aesthetic throughout it. On the █
█ instrumental portion of this the band provides for █
█ a great soundtrack to the various weather elements █
█ of the human experience. This is perfectly matched █
█ in harmony with the lyrical content of the song. █
█ Like Fire, Wind, Water, Earth the band explores █
█ all these within the melody in relationship █
█ between the instrumental and lyrical content. Part █
█ of this reminds me of parts of Jethro TullÆs █
█ Aqualung. The deep Rickenbacker bass adds a deep █
█ Earth like tone to the rhythm section. The guitar █
█ soloÆs do a great job in conveying the wind █
█ elements. The keyboards have a heavy Dixie DregÆs █
█ style to them. █
█ █
█ Theodora █
█ Music û Luca Scherani █
█ Lyrics û Pikko Salhi & Kev Moore █
█ Marco Bernard û Rickenbacker Bass, Kimmo Porsti û █
█ Drums/Percussion & Backing Vocals , Steve Unruh û █
█ Violin/Vocals/Flute , Luca Scherani û Keyboards , █
█ Ruben Alvarez û Electric Guitar , Michelle Young û █
█ Vocals █
█ If you like Annie Halsam and Renaissance you will █
█ like this. Michelle Young stands out as a true █
█ treasure on vocals. She sings with a very sultry █
█ yet soulful voice. The opening of this track sets █
█ up much in the tradition of RenaissanceÆs Mother █
█ Russia. The guitars have a heavy Floydian █
█ influence about them. The opening top this is very █
█ stringed section driven with obvious emphasis on █
█ guitarÆs , violins, and keyboards interchanging █
█ and weaving like a beautiful web. It is matched in █
█ melody and harmony with both rhythm sections and █
█ beautifully orchestrated feminine vocals. This is █
█ a track that also places a great emphasis on time █
█ signatures and chord progressions. There is also █
█ beautiful exchange of both male and female vocals. █
█ The backing vocals are very heavily symphonic in █
█ their nature. There are some nice breaks in █
█ between vocal lines allowing the track to breathe █
█ so the listener can take in its full intended █
█ purpose. █
█ █
█ Ascension (Instrumental) █
█ Music û David Meyers █
█ Marco Bernard û Rickenbacker Bass, Kimmo Porsti û █
█ Drums & Percussion , Steve Unruh û Violin/Flute , █
█ David Meyers û Keyboards , Jacques Friedmann û █
█ Electric Guitar █
█ This open up with a very atmospheric keyboard █
█ orchestration that is soon picked up in melody █
█ with a subtle and brilliant bass line from Marco █
█ Bernard. It soon takes a more fusion funk chord █
█ progression with the gentle style of the flute █
█ accentuating the instrumental melody. The electric █
█ guitar opens this one up into a deeper layer of a █
█ atmospheric track. The way this was tracked you █
█ can tell they had some fun with this instrumental. █
█ It all comes together like they played it live as █
█ a unified band in the studio. This is one of those █
█ tracks that appears to have been minimal effort █
█ with the pay off of maximum distribution. The █
█ piano allows a classical element to be present in █
█ the song as well. █
█ █
█ Ghost Written █
█ Music û Sean Timms █
█ Lyrics & Some Vocal Melodies û Steve Unruh █
█ Marco Bernard û Rickenbacker Bass , Kimmo Porsti û █
█ Drums & Percussion , Steve Unruh û █
█ Violin/Vocals/Flute , Sean Timms û Keyboards , █
█ Mark Trueack û Vocals , Jacob Holm Lupo û Electric █
█ Guitars , Ruben Alverez û Electric Guitar Solo █
█ This opens with a beautifully guitar led passage █
█ that is enhanced with the subtle sound of the █
█ flute and immediate vocals. It is a perfect set up █
█ for a great story. There are great melodies and █
█ layers of violins and flutes along with the guitar █
█ and keyboard stringed sections. This has a very █
█ heavy Celtic/Folk atmosphere about it much like a █
█ element of World influences. The rhythm section █
█ really anchors this allowing every other █
█ instrument involved their æDay In The SunÆ if you █
█ will. I also feel at times elements of Camel and █
█ Caravan peaking through the melodic veil. Steve █
█ Unruh has such a highly distinctive flute that has █
█ become a major staple in the discography of The █
█ Samurai Of Prog. I like the way the track isolates █
█ the piano and vocals around the 5:30 mark. The █
█ vocals are very Southern Empire meets IQ. This is █
█ also a very uplifting song lyrically wise. The █
█ band also has a very astute ability to let every █
█ song breathe where all the instruments shine █
█ through and this song is a perfect example of it. █
█ █
█ The Perfect Black (Instrumental) █
█ Music û Oliverio Lacagnina █
█ Marco Bernard û Rickenbacker Bass ,Kimmo Porsti û █
█ Drums & Percussion , Steve Unruh û █
█ Flute/Violin/Additional Classic Guitar , Oliverio █
█ Lacagnina û Keyboards , Flavio Cucchi û Classical █
█ Guitar █
█ This is a little bit darker track. It begins with █
█ a deep rhythm section along with a open █
█ atmospheric style Hammond Organ. This is a heavily █
█ stringed section based track along with a heavy █
█ wind instrument track. Its nature carries a tone █
█ about it like the captain of a ship navigating █
█ through some rough waters. The Perfect Black is a █
█ excellent title due to the unpredictable chord █
█ progressions and time signatures. The very █
█ backbone to this track is heavily classical in █
█ nature. For those who score films this track gives █
█ the listener the appearance that a symphony █
█ orchestra is playing to a set of film clips. This █
█ track also allows the listener to breathing room █
█ to absorb the adventure as they see fit instead of █
█ forcing the motion picture on the screen of the █
█ theater of the mind. The piano reminds me more of █
█ Bach or Mozart playing progressive rock. The █
█ classical guitarÆs also have a heavy Latin element █
█ about them. █
█ █
█ Growing Up █
█ Music & Lyrics û Kerry Schacklett █
█ Marco Bernard û Rickenbacker Bass , Kimmo Porsti û █
█ Drums & Percussion , Steve Unruh û █
█ Vocals/Volin/Flute , Kerry Schacklett û Acounstc & █
█ Electric Guitar/Keyboards/Vocals ,Brett Kull û █
█ Electric Guitar █
█ This definitely has a very vintage Jethro Tull █
█ element about it. Much of the opening passage is █
█ in the tradition of Jethro TullÆs Thick As A █
█ Brick. The band does a great job in storytelling █
█ with the lyrical content. Even traditionally non █
█ progressive fans can relate to its content. The █
█ heavy Ian Anderson influenced flute of Steve Unruh █
█ is the unsung hero in this song. The drums of Kimm █
█ Porsti really allow the flute and stringed █
█ instruments the opportunity to engage the listener █
█ on many levels. This is another uplifting and █
█ positive song of childhood innocence. In general █
█ this is a very fun song that will resonate with █
█ many objective listeners. █
█ █
█ Over Again (Instrumental) █
█ Music û David Meyers █
█ David Meyers û Bosendorfer Grand Piano █
█ This opens up with a baby grand piano passage █
█ about it. The piano really reminds me a lot of █
█ Beethoven meets Bach. This is a great transition █
█ instrumental that will work in live sets to give █
█ the other members of the band a brief rest period. █
█ This is also a very soothing track that allows the █
█ listener time to digest the album thus far. It █
█ also transitionÆs seamlessly into the final track █
█ on the album Tigers. █
█ █
█ Tigers █
█ Music & Lyrics û Stefan Renstrom █
█ Marco Bernard û Rickenbacker Bass , Kimmo Porsti û █
█ Drums & Percussion , Steve Unruh û █
█ Vocals/Violin/Flute , Stefan Renstrom û █
█ Keyboards/Vocoder ,Daniel Faldt û Vocals , Roberto █
█ Vitelli û Moog Taurus Pedals █
█ This comes right in smoothly and seamlessly off █
█ Over Again. The track opens up with most its █
█ instrumental in one melodic coco phonic harmony. █
█ The opening has some very heavy piano and violin █
█ elements. It drops and then the isolated piano in █
█ harmony with isolated vocals begin to tell the █
█ story intended by the band. This track is a very █
█ traditional progressive rock track. It is heavy on █
█ the keyboards, flute and violin to add greater █
█ depth and layers that are the signature of The █
█ Samurai Of Prog. The vocals are very soulful and █
█ executed with great conviction. The vocals not █
█ only serve as a harmonic story teller, they also █
█ hit every note perfectly as they go. The █
█ transitions within the vocals are spot on perfect. █
█ The open ended guitar soloÆs add a depth of great █
█ emotion about them. The rhythm section also picks █
█ this up quite nice towards the 7:00 to 8:00 minute █
█ marks. █
█ This final track gives the listener the appearance █
█ that they have taken the album to its final █
█ destination thus finishing the beautiful melodic █
█ journey that has been The Samurai Of Prog On We █
█ Sail. █
█ █
█ Synopsis █
█ Although this was not a deliberately planned out █
█ conceptual piece it certainly felt that way. I █
█ like how the band always leave breathing room for █
█ the listener to absorb and digest every album █
█ according to their individual personalities. The █
█ Samurai Of Prog also prove there is still a market █
█ for organic uncompressed traditional progressive █
█ rock. Nothing ever seems forced to appease a █
█ record label or the industry whatsoever. They also █
█ have a intelligent awareness to incorporate newer █
█ elements that may attract a newer listener base. I █
█ am giving The Samurai Of ProgÆs On We Sail a 5/5. █
▓ ▓
▒ ▒
░ 1. On We Sail 6:21 ░
░ 2. Elements of Life 7:54 ░
░ 3. Theodora 5:55 ░
░ 4. Ascension 5:19 ░
░ 5. Ghost Written 9:40 ░
░ 6. The Perfect Black 9:30 ░
░ 7. Growing Up 5:42 ░
░ 8. Over Again 4:06 ░
░ 9. Tigers 10:34 ░
░ 65:01 ░
░ ▒ ▒
▓ █ ░ ▓ ░
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