Bridge Across Forever, by Transatlantic, their second album from 2001, here in a beautiful reissue on 180g vinyl, a masterpiece from the American supergroup, their best album in my opinion.
Let's first recall the lineup of this monstrous band:
- Neal Morse, Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Keyboards, known for solo projects and numerous side projects including The Neal Morse Band and Spock's Beard but also the recent 2025 project Cosmic Cathedral to name a few…
- Roine Stolt, Guitar, Vocals, Percussion, known for solo works and numerous bands including The Flower Kings and The Tangent
- Pete Trewavas, Bass, Vocals, historic bassist of Marillion
- Mike Portnoy, Drums, Vocals, known for numerous projects including Dream Theater, The Neal Morse Band, Liquid Tension Experiment, Flying Colors.
The album contains, over 72 minutes, four songs that, with the exception of the title track, are all suites. They are complex and engaging, alternating between very difficult instrumental sections and more easy-listening, yet perfectly harmonized and captivating, sections.
- "Duel With the Devil" opens the album, an epic 26-minute piece, a true masterpiece, with great harmony and harmony within the band on very complex themes and variations. The strings, saxophone, and backing vocals are beautiful.
- "Suite Charlotte Pike," at 14 minutes, has a beat-like sound and splendid vocal harmonies.
- "Bridge Across Forever" is a short ballad with a large piano part, heavily influenced by the typical Neal Morse sound.
- "Stranger in Your Soul" is an epic piece, approximately 26 minutes long, with many different atmospheres, a great, albeit brief, bass solo by Pete Trewavas, and beautiful strings.
Great taste, beautiful instrumentals, and moving melodies. In my opinion, their masterpiece. I'm crazy about "If She Runs," a monster piece.
Note: All links to the musicians' works are in the TAGS under the article title or on the "Artists" page.
Tracklist
1. Duel with the Devil (26:43) :
- i) Motherless Children
- ii) Walk Away
- iii) Silence of the Night
- iv) You're Not Alone
- v) Almost Home
2. Suite Charlotte Pike (14:30) :
- i) If She Runs
- ii) Mr. Wonderful
- iii) Lost and Found Pt. 1
- iv) Temple of the Gods
- v) Motherless Children / If She Runs (reprise)
3. Bridge Across Forever (5:33)
4. Stranger in Your Soul (26:05) :
- i) Sleeping Wide Awake
- ii) Hanging in the Balance
- iii) Lost and Found Pt. 2
- iv) Awakening the Stranger
- v) Slide
- vi) Stranger in Your Soul
Duration 72:51
LineUp
- Neal Morse - vocals, piano, Hammond, Minimoog, Fender Rhodes, synthesizer, additional guitars, mandolin
- Roine Stolt - electric and acoustic guitar, Mellotron, additional keyboards, percussion, vocals
- Pete Trewavas - bass, Taurus pedals, vocals
- Mike Portnoy - drums, vocals
Featuring:
- Chris Carmichael - violin, viola, and cello (1, 4)
- Keith Mears - saxophone (1)
- The "Elite" Choir - backing vocals (1)
