For this fifth review dedicated to progressive rock, it is still Americans with 'Cirrus Bay' who began their career in the early 2000s and released their sixth studio recording 'The Art of Vanishing'. For those who know the band 'Renaissance' which had a great popularity in the 70/80 (see their latest live here), I find that we find a certain similarity in the melodic lines and 'Tai Shan' is close to the very high register of 'Annie Haslam' and this from the first title 'A Blossom of Hills' reminiscent of the sounds of the 70s. This similarity is confirmed in 'A Garment of Clouds' with a beautiful melody and very beautiful vocalizations, then 'Eden' continues in the same register and recalls the first albums of the English. The album is sprinkled with acoustic or semi-acoustic instruments, firstly with the short guitar solo 'Undiscovered Isle', then 'The North Country' continues in this characteristic style of the 70s with the sounds of keyboards that can recall 'Focus' and also, we can quote 'Sooke Harbor' in which flute and guitar offer beautiful exchanges, but also 'Unexpected Wonder', recalling the first progressive pieces and the very purest 'Lost and Profund'. With 'The Dictator', we embark on a sweet ballad with new beautiful vocalizations then 'The Vanishing Place' is a long title consisting of several parts in a typical style of a progressive leaving much space for the instrumental parts. The album ends with the acoustic 'Falling Leaves' and the beautiful relaxing medley 'Medley For Solo Piano: The Poetic Sea / Solitude / Cascadence' where 'Bill Gillham' shows us all his talent as a pianist. In summary, with 'The Art of Vanishing', the Americans of 'Cirrus Bay' takes us back a few decades back into a peaceful and airy progressive that was popularized at the time by groups like 'Renaissance'... | |
