After the return of the Poles from 'Collage' in the spotlight, here is a new progressive rock project, 'The Palimpsest', which was initiated by vocalist and bassist 'Glam Dave' and is releasing his debut album 'Primary'. Quite discreet on the web, we learn on his site that he was influenced by different currents, first of all by the essential groups of the rock and hard rock scene of the 70s like 'AC/DC', 'Motorhead' or 'Black Sabbath' but that he was also attracted by the neo-prog movement of the 90s with 'Marillion' or 'IQ' which led him to listen to the pioneers of the genre of the 70s.
On the menu of this first opus from the Englishman, which exceeds one hour of listening, 10 compositions ranging from three to ten minutes, which take us into atmospheres that take us back a few decades and parade names like 'Pink Floyd', 'Emerson Lake & Palmer', 'Genesis' or even 'Rush'. After the introduction 'Hello' which begins with the sound effects of a music box that we wind up and of which we hear the sweet melody which turns into a very beautiful piano/voice duet, the first long development 'The Death of the Only Child' deploys its 10 minutes by mixing various influences with very beautiful alternations between energetic parts and others much calmer (magnificent passage at 3 minutes in the style of a 'Roger Waters'), the 'Floydian' guitar solos on the finale bringing a magnificent atmospheric side. With 'Dearly Beloved', we continue in a quiet atmosphere with a more direct construction and with very beautiful melodic lines, the sweet vocals of 'Glam Dave' adding to this feeling of sweetness, then, 'The Stranger', continues in a more tormented atmosphere, the very expressive singing adding to this sense of urgency. Follows 'Questions' which is a very beautiful semi-acoustic title with an acoustic guitar accompaniment and which offers us a catchy melody which comes directly to the head, then, 'I'm Tired' begins in a refined way with a vocals whispered by 'Glam Dave' accompanied by a few layers of keyboards and gradually gaining momentum for the second part which shows a heavy and heavy face with a very beautiful guitar solo, the title falling on the end as it had start. After a long symphonic introduction with strings repeating the same theme, the long development 'Times and Tides' then takes off to unfold a catchy melody on a mid-tempo that modulates the intensities with influences taking us back to the 70s, then, 'Miss You' is more direct in a classy AOR style with a new melody that sticks in your head. And to finish, 'Maybe' takes us back to the melodic rock lines of the seventies that can remind us of the 'Rolling Stones' and 'Reprise' offers us this time an atmospheric instrumental with a magnificent 'Floydien' guitar solo and a very beautiful piano/ voice that echoes the opening title with the music box that delicately closes this very beautiful album.
In summary, this new project 'The Palimpsest' by Englishman 'Glam Dave' offers us a very beautiful journey through time with a mosaic of influences mixing direct and progressive rock, the whole being supported by melodic lines that we tame very quickly, which intends 'Primary' for a wide audience who love an accessible and melodic progressive that takes us back to the pioneers of this style... | |
