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██▌ Artist...: Rick Wakeman & The English Rock Ensemble ░▐██▌
░▐██ Album....: The Red Planet ░██▌░
▓▐██ Year.....: 2020 ▓▐██▓
▓▐██ Rel.Date.: 2020-10-25 ░▐██▓
▐██ Genre....: Progressive Rock ██▌░
░ ██▌ Label....: R&D Multimedia ██▌
▐██ Source...: CD ▐██
░▐██▌ Type.....: Album ▐██▌░
▓▄████ Quality..: VBR, 44.1kHz, Joint Stereo ████▌░
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1. Ascraeus Mons 5:53
2. Tharsis Tholus 6:17
3. Arsia Mons 6:10
4. Olympus Mons 5:20
5. The North Plain 6:53
6. Pavonis Mons 7:14
7. South Pole 7:36
8. Valles Marineris 10:02
------
55:25
Rick Wakeman is no stranger when it comes to being perhaps one of the
most influential artists in the history of the Progressive Rock genre
during its golden era of the 1970s. From his time as a session musician
working with bands and artists such as Elton John, Lou Reed, Marc Bolan
& T. Rex, and Al Stewart to name a few. He found his niche when he
worked with the late great David Bowie by playing the mellotron on his
1969 hit, æSpace OddityÆ. And playing piano on his fourth album, Hunky
Dory.
It wasnÆt until he found success with when joined Yes in 1971 after
leaving his previous band, The Strawbs with the release of their fourth
studio album, From the Witchwood. Now say what you want about the
keyboardist, but Rick has been around performing and recording music for
nearly 51 years now. Whether itÆs with Yes or his time as a solo artist
based on conceptual textures from The Six Wives of Henry VIII, Journey
to the Centre of the Earth, The Myths and Legends of King Arthur & The
Knights of the Round Table, and one of my favorites, 1984.
Rick is not only just a keyboardist, but he also has a great sense of
humor. He also produces and presents both on TV and on the Radio whilst
writing two books from 2008 and 2011 entitled, Grumpy Old Rock Star: And
Other Wonderous Stories and Further Adventures of a Grumpy Old Rock
Star. ThereÆs one thing I had forgotten to mention about Rick Wakeman
that deserves some recognition, and thatÆs his time when he and
keyboardist Tony Ashton hosted a TV show on Channel 4 in the U.K.
called, Gas Tank.
It aired from 1982 to 1983 where the guest artists would join with Rick
and his house band and perform re-arrangements of their hits theyÆve
done during their heyday in the 1970s. He would interview the guests in
a setting of a bar where he would talk to people like; Suzi Quatro,
Steve Hackett, John ôThe Oxö Entwistle, Dave Cousins, Cockney RebelÆs
Steve Harley, and Eric Burdon of The Animals to name a few. It is worth
checking out on YouTube.
That and his latest release this year entitled, The Red Planet with his
backing band The English Rock Ensemble, showcases RickÆs return to his
heavier keyboard sounds that he did during The Six Wivesûera. And it
shows that Rick himself is not showing any signs of slowing down.
Released on the R&D Media label, The Red Planet is quite the journey to
embark on.
So be prepared to embark on this amazing adventure of WakemanÆs return
to his roots with his orchestral and harder approach. Now this isnÆt the
first time that Rick is heading back into the Outer Limits again. HeÆs
done it three times with his previous albums; No Earthly Connection,
2000 A.D. Into the Future, and Out There. For Rick, his chance to go
back to the outer limits once more, itÆs like an epic movie that is
finally been reborn.
From the church organ making this alarming effect on the opener,
æAseraeus MonsÆ, it sets up this scenario for the rocket ship to engage
for lift-off as Lee Pomeroy and Ash Soan sets up the countdown to X
Minus One with a bit of fanfare to the twist. Once you have the
Mellotron choir coming in to give our heroes a big send-off, RickÆs
keyboards climb towards our solar system.
Both the ensemble and Rick work together like a team to discover what
kind of mysteries that the terrestrial planet has in store for us before
ColquhounÆs guitars cries out to the gods in a climatic landing to the
surface. æTharsis TholusÆ features these cavernous atmospheres with an
odd time signature that channel the Grand Wazoo himself, Frank Zappa. I
love how Rick takes his organ as he climbs upwards as he switches to the
Moog and honor two compositions; Del ShannonÆs æRunawayÆ with Max
CrookÆs ôMusitronö (Clavioline) on the midsection, and æThe Cinema ShowÆ
by Genesis.
Once you get to æArsia MonsÆ, you can feel the marching rhythm right
behind you as it sets the tempo up to continue with the mysteries with
DaveÆs acoustic guitar to set up the calm after the storm. It gives him
a chance for Rick to cool down on his synthesizer while understanding
that they will have an uphill battle before this eruptive sound comes in
with a big gigantic as they follow the evidential background.
æPavonis MonsÆ is RickÆs tip of the hat to both the Glam Rock sound and
the Italian Progressive Rock genre between KayakÆs æWe Are Not AmusedÆ,
Premiata Forneria Marconi, BancoÆs Io Sono Nato Libero, and
MetamorfosiÆs Inferno. He knows which direction he wants to go into from
point ôAö to point ôBö. The adventure that is happening on Mars is
nearing its completion for the ensemble.
And having a bit of a Henry Mancini-sque section thrown in for the
piano, Rhodes, and synthesizers with a bit of the Mellotron, it becomes
a workout session with some foot-stompinÆ grooves. The closing 10-minute
track, æValles MarinerisÆ is Rick honoring Gustav HolstÆs æMars, The
Bringer of WarÆ. With a little help between AshÆs militant drum work,
LeeÆs bass and DaveÆs electric guitar work as they prepare the ride home
back to earth.
Part heavy and part symphonic, you can feel the energy flowing between
each member of the band as they have accomplished their mission on Mars.
Now this took me a while listening to Rick WakemanÆs The Red Planet. And
here are my result towards this.
I have to say that I was really, really impressed with RickÆs new album.
Understand, his work can be challenging at times whether you get it or
you donÆt. But it is an accomplished voyage that he let the listeners
embarked on. Yes, this album will divide a line in the sand whether the
Prog community will accept the new album or not, but Rick Wakeman
himself is a true visionary, a maestro, and a storyteller that has
brought The Red Planet to life.
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