The Absolute Universe - Forevermore (Extended Version) by Transatlantic, from 2021.
This album is available in two different editions ("The Breath Of Life" and "Forevermore") and in an "Ultimate Edition" that brings everything together in a single package.
Each of the two editions has a different tracklist, as the title says this post is about Forevermore (Extended Version) of which I have only listened to the vinyls.
It is a package that contains 3 Vinyls and 2 CDs, 18 tracks both on Vinyl and CD with a slight difference in duration for some tracks that ranges from a few seconds to about a minute and a half (more or less), for a total duration of the 18 tracks still around 90 minutes.
The "Forevermore" and "The Breath Of Life" versions are different, in the extended version these are new recordings with different approaches to the tracks with new lyrics and sung by different musicians. I will consider whether to get the "The Breath Of Life" version as well, suggestions are welcome.
I just want to remind you that this is a magnificent lineup composed of Neal Morse (Flying Colors, The Neal Morse Band), Roine Stolt (The Flower Kings), Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater) and Pete Trewavas (Marillion) for a sound heavily influenced by Neal Morse and Roine Stolt. Some of them are also part of other supergroups as is well known (NMB, Cosmic Chatedral) or have participated in Neal Morse's solo works, in all these works the influences and sound are inevitably similar.
To avoid making this post monstrous as well, I'll limit myself to the conclusions and my general impressions.
Symphonic rock of the highest level as is their style, with the predominant sound of Neal Morse and the Flower Kings and a bit of beat, Yes, jazz and some Crimson-like atmospheres. Some themes recur throughout the album. Excellent execution and great taste in the compositions.
If anyone thinks this band is verbose, they're right, I have nothing against long albums and long tracks are generally my favorites, but I like to listen to albums all in one session and for long works like this it's difficult, so I waited for a suitable day and it was absolutely worth it.
Apart from this, beautiful album, which doesn't surprise me at all, this is a monstrous band!
Tracklist
- Overture
- Heart Like A Whirlwind
- Higher Than The Morning
- The Darkness In The Light
- Swing High, Swing Low
- Bully
- Rainbow Sky
- Looking For The Light
- The World We Used To Know
- The Sun Comes Up Today
- Love Made A Way (Prelude)
- Owl Howl
- Solitude
- Belong
- Lonesome Rebel
- Looking For The Light (Reprise)
- The Greatest Story Never Ends
- Love Made A Way
Duration about 90 minutes
LineUp
- Neal Morse - vocals, piano, Hammond organ, Minimoog, Mellotron, acoustic guitar, charango
- Roine Stolt - vocals, 6 and 12 string electric and acoustic guitars, ukulele, keyboards, percussion
- Pete Trewavas - vocals, bass
- Mike Portnoy - vocals, drums and percussion
With:
- Josee Weigand - violin, viola
- Gideon Klein - cello, viola, double bass
Note: All links to the musicians' works are in the TAGS under the article title or on the "Artists" page.
