Rick Wakeman & The English Rock Ensemble – A Gallery Of The Imagination
Origin: UK
Release: 24.02.2023
Label: Madfish music / Edel Music
Duration: 56:26
Genre: Progressive Rock
A good two and a half years following its predecessor The Red Planet and the concept of a round trip on the planet Mars undertakes the progressive rock legend Rick Wakeman along with his band The English Rock Ensemblean extremely richly illustrated journey through symphonic classical and rock realms.
In addition to the obligatory media such as CD and vinyl A Gallery Of The Imagination also in a surround version on DVD.
The song material of the former Yes Considered in the context of his overall work, Keyboardwizards is arranged very tastefully and relatively unobtrusively. In addition to the not always stylish keyboard sounds, there is above all the voice of Hayley Sanderson in the foreground, which Wakeman has accompanied musically for several years. The timbre of her voice doesn’t get under my skin deep enough, so she’s pretty lonely on her own.
If Wakeman however, leaving the keyboards aside and swinging to the piano, a certain romantic vibe does come through, as in Only When I Cry.
Musical processing of the gallery of life
is thematic A Gallery Of The Imagination has become a personal and partly autobiographical affair, in which Wakeman revisits various stages of his life in the form of a musical picture gallery. On A Day Spent On The Pier he goes back to his own childhood. It’s just a pity that this song is rather burdened by inappropriate keyboard sounds and the not particularly successful vocals. Cuban Carnival brings back memories of special moments with his band and him in Cuba and sounds effortlessly light.
is strong A Gallery Of The Imagination when it is oriented towards classical music and remains instrumental. As in The Creekwhich really gets under your skin and does without superfluous things like synths or vocals.
Stylistically in the spectrum between rock and classic
But also in the songs in which Rick Wakeman relies on Moog sounds, he can do good, like in the opener Hidden Depthwhich is a little rockier and straighter than the rest of this album with lots of highs and some lows.
Totally convinced A Gallery Of The Imagination me with its sophisticated arrangements, the mature songwriting and the claim to process personal stages of life in songs.
Conclusion
At Rick Wakeman was probably to be expected that his new work A Gallery Of The Imagination has become quite a double-edged sword. Not always stylish, but it does show a feeling for moods, intelligent arrangements and a good dose of romance. 7,5 / 10
Line Up
Rick Wakeman – Keyboards
Dave Colquhoun – guitar
Lee Pomeroy – Bass
Ash Soan – drums
Hayley Sanderson – Gesang
Tracklist
01. Hidden Depths
02. The Man In The Moon
03. A Mirage in the Clouds
04. The Creek
05. My Moonlight Dream
06. Only When I Cry
07. Cuban Carnival
08. Just A Memory
09. The Dinner Party
10. A Day Spent On The Pier
11. The Visitation
12. The Eyes of a Child
Links
Rick Wakeman website
Also on Soundmagnet.eu
Album Review – Rick Wakeman – The English Rock Ensemble – The Red Planet
Interview – ArsGoatia, Asked by Thom
Statement Review – Soilwork – The Abandonment
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