Got this on Xmas morning and absolutely love it. Thanks very much for your review and heads up Paul. What a wonderful and beautiful cd this is. It wont appeal to everyones tastes on here but if you fancy some early Mike Oldfield/Celtic/Prog type music with lush musical landscapes, fantastic vocals and wonderful playing then I would certainly recommend it. It comes in a fantastic package, which helps tell the story around what the cd is based on.http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,924780,924780#msg-924780Thu, 20 Jun 2013 14:12:36 +1000 Phorum 5.2.16 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,924780,924892#msg-924892 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,924780,924892#msg-924892
Paul :-)]]> pjs NoticeboardSat, 29 Dec 2012 07:23:44 +1100 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,924780,924890#msg-924890 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,924780,924890#msg-924890 Terry K. NoticeboardSat, 29 Dec 2012 07:12:56 +1100 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,924780,924889#msg-924889 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,924780,924889#msg-924889 Terry K. NoticeboardSat, 29 Dec 2012 07:11:31 +1100 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,924780,924881#msg-924881 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,924780,924881#msg-924881
:-) :-) :-)

Paul]]> pjs NoticeboardSat, 29 Dec 2012 03:37:46 +1100 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,924780,924877#msg-924877 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,924780,924877#msg-924877 Carl1 NoticeboardSat, 29 Dec 2012 02:22:50 +1100 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,924780,924874#msg-924874 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,924780,924874#msg-924874
Couldn't be squeezed in amongst the 500 word limit I set myself and all the other review writers!!

Heh, heh!!

Paul]]> pjs NoticeboardSat, 29 Dec 2012 01:53:57 +1100 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,924780,924866#msg-924866 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,924780,924866#msg-924866 Carl1 NoticeboardSat, 29 Dec 2012 00:07:35 +1100 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,924780,924861#msg-924861 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,924780,924861#msg-924861
KOMPENDIUM – ‘BENEATH THE WAVES’ (Tigermoth Productions)

Over three years in gestation, this magnificent multiple-genre meisterwerk from Magenta’s Rob Reed - and incorporating lyrical input from his brother Steve - produces a gamut of emotional response from the attentive listener across its 67 minutes. If you seek intelligent, uncompromisingly beautiful, wonderfully performed music that delivers a very special aural experience and packaged to enhance the musical experience inside, for now you need look no further than ‘Beneath The Waves’ an album that should find broad appeal amongst readers of this magazine.
Reed has assembled a remarkable coterie of talent to deliver his vision. Key vocalists Steve Balsamo (as Connor) and Angharad Brinn (as Lilly) are supported by the sumptuous English Chamber Choir (conducted by Guy Protheroe), vocal group Synergy, operatic stars Sian Cothi and Rhys Meirion and for a brief starring moment, folk singer Barry Kerr who appears in the complex, sensational, 11 minute track ‘The Storm’ that lies at the heart of the album. Instrumentally too, there is a galaxy of star contributors amongst whom are Troy Donockley, Steve Hackett, John Mitchell, Nick Barrett, Nick Beggs and Mel Collins and all is wrapped in a luscious veneer provided the London Session Orchestra (arrangements by Dave Stewart).
The epic tale recounted in this conceptual work largely invokes Celtic imagery and much (although certainly not all) of the music consequently has a distinctive Celtic resonance, and in this respect the contribution of Donockly’s Uilleann pipes and low whistles has been pivotal along with key orchestral instrumentation. However, at times the music rocks impressively, while at the other end of the scale, there are some true operatic moments, not least of which is ‘Il Tempo E Giunto’ voiced by Welsh tenor Meirion, and works very well in context.
Brief narration commences and concludes the album in what is, I think, supposed to be an Irish accent – but it’s a very strange one from my extensive travels around the Emerald Isles! ‘Exordium’ is, nevertheless, as the second longest track a tremendously effective opener, with interweaving themes. The initial appearance by Cothi is something of a shock but then we are introduced to the two main protagonists. I have not previously heard Brinn, but her sweet stylings suit the role she fulfils. Balsamo (Jesus Christ Superstar, The Storys, ChimpanA) is a vocalist of whom I am a huge fan, and when I first heard of his involvement in this new project knew that his distinctive vocal stylings, range and passionate delivery would doubtless be a completely magical component. I was not wrong! For a further eleven tracks, the story ebbs and flows, and is one of those albums where you really should listen in one go, and as the focus of what you are doing.
Do read my interview with Rob and Steve Reed in this magazine for further information about this outstanding album of “classic rock plus...” As the advert says, it reminds one of when music meant much more than just the click of a mouse!
Paul Jerome Smith]]> pjs NoticeboardFri, 28 Dec 2012 23:37:58 +1100 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,924780,924858#msg-924858 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,924780,924858#msg-924858 totobob NoticeboardFri, 28 Dec 2012 23:27:50 +1100 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,924780,924856#msg-924856 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,924780,924856#msg-924856
It's a momentous achievement. Melodic, epic, soaring, poignant and moving. It's prog in the sense of incorporating a lot of different musical styles and having long, multi-part songs, but it's consistently melodic - not too much widdle or overly technical playing. It's also incredibly cinematic - very 'Lord of the Rings' in places. Some of Steve Balsamo's vocal pyrotechnics gave me chills - just when you think he's nailing a high note with as much power and finesse as humanly possible, suddenly he goes even HIGHER. Goosebumps aplenty.


Haven't seen many reviews around so I don't think many promos (if any) were sent out, but now it's also available for digital download (although you'd be missing out on the glorious packaging, which was kinda the point!)

It is a little pricey, but I got mine for £16 direct from the official website (would rather do it that way so that the band get a greater cut of the profits). Haven't seen it cheaper anywhere (not the CD/DVD hard copy at least). It's well worth every penny though.

Highly recommended. I think there's a lot that melodicrock.com readers will love.

- Danny.]]> Idiosyncrasy NoticeboardFri, 28 Dec 2012 23:06:30 +1100 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,924780,924834#msg-924834 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,924780,924834#msg-924834When i first started buying Cd's in 1985 it was £14 for a single disc and imports were anything upto £22 for a US release coming into the UK. CD's are one of the few items that are generally fairly priced with the odd exception of course.]]> Carl1 NoticeboardFri, 28 Dec 2012 13:30:55 +1100 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,924780,924833#msg-924833 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,924780,924833#msg-924833 Terry K. NoticeboardFri, 28 Dec 2012 12:46:02 +1100 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,924780,924830#msg-924830 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,924780,924830#msg-924830 Carl1 NoticeboardFri, 28 Dec 2012 12:16:32 +1100 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,924780,924813#msg-924813 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,924780,924813#msg-924813 Terry K. NoticeboardFri, 28 Dec 2012 10:24:01 +1100 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,924780,924796#msg-924796 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,924780,924796#msg-924796 rocknut NoticeboardFri, 28 Dec 2012 07:20:44 +1100 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,924780,924792#msg-924792 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,924780,924792#msg-924792 Burg NoticeboardFri, 28 Dec 2012 06:13:32 +1100 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,924780,924781#msg-924781 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,924780,924781#msg-924781
Hopefully your heads up about it here will encourage more to investigate,Robin.

It really is a quite remarkable album.

Paul]]> pjs NoticeboardFri, 28 Dec 2012 05:03:35 +1100 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,924780,924780#msg-924780 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,924780,924780#msg-924780 totobob NoticeboardFri, 28 Dec 2012 04:55:53 +1100