CD Review
This review was originally written by Jose Bernardo for www.theweeklyriff.com between 2008 and 2010.
These were Jose’s first impressions of the songs and were not written after multiple spins.
Artist : Transatlantic
Album : The Whirlwind (2009 Radiant Records/Metal Blade/ SONY/Inside Out/EMI)
Tracks : (see below)
Artist website : http://www.transatlanticweb.com/
OVERVIEW
The band that raised the bars of truly epic songwriting to new heights is back with a stunning 77 minute and 56 second track! That’s right, one song spanning the length of an entire CD, broken down into 12 parts or movements.
Unlike the previous Transatlantic epics, this one has been broken up in to track numbers on the CD for easy access to the different movements.
Everything on this album is top notch! The mix is wonderful and dynamic. It is great to hear these four musicians back together, making absolutely vibrant and amazing music.
I will say this: I write these reviews when I listen to an album for the first time. All my notes in the “Play by Play” are first impressions. This is clearly an album that will take multiple listens to really get a strong sense of everything. There’s so much going on musically and it is so wonderfully complex that it is impossible to catch everything on the first listen.
HIGHLIGHTS :
Overture/Whirlwind, Out Of The Night, Rose Colored Glasses, Dancing with Eternal Glory/Whirlwind (Reprise)
PLAY BY PLAY
The Whirlwind
Part 1 – Overture/Whirlwind
Truly stunning performances in this one. The main theme is easily one of the most memorable of all time.
Part 2 – The Wind Blew The All Away
Very soulful guitar solo!
Part 3 – On the Prowl
This one starts off with a nice jam. Cool rhodes solo. Jazzy. When the vocals kick in, the song takes on a heavier texture.
Part 4 – A Man Can Feel
I couldn’t get into this part. It may take me multiple listens before I can truly say I like this movement. There are some very interesting scale/chord choices in this movement, though. I just found it a bit repetitive on the whole. Gotta say though, that I dug the guitar solo and the Hammond organ solo.
Part 5 – Out of the Night
Quite poppy. Very nice melodies and themes. This movement reminded me of some previous parts in other Transatlantic tunes. Not direct derivatives, but definitely in style and feel.
Part 6 – Rose Colored Glasses
Sublime!
Part 7 – Evermore
Wonderfully old school! Really tight groove.
Part 8 – Set Us Free
The tight groove from Track 7 carries on.
Part 9 – Lay Down Your Life
Cool. I’ll require a few more passes, but I liked it.
Part 10 – Pieces of Heaven
The instrumental movement. Very cool ideas in here.
Part 11 – Is it Really Happening
Perhaps the most boring movement. It gets more interesting towards the end of the movement.
Part 12 – Dancing with Eternal Glory / Whirlwind (Reprise)
Very pretty. There are some fantastic moments in this movement. The band even almost repeats their huge ending build up from Stranger In Your Soul on this track.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
A huge thanks to Jenn @ Bill Evans Media for sending in the promo to us! We really appreciate it.