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TRANSATLANTIC

(UNITED STATES)

KALEIDOSCOPE

(2014)
LABEL:

INSIDEOUT MUSIC

GENRE:

PROGRESSIVE ROCK

TAGS:
Epic, Old School
"Due to its technical quality and its above-average production, "Kaleidoscope" remains a fascinating album to own absolutely."
PHENOMENA (10.01.2014)  
4/5
(0) opinions (2) comment(s)
Transatlantic is a progressive rock super-group founded in 1999 by Mike Portnoy. Due to the various projects of each of its members, the band has only offered a few studio albums since 2003 but is again swarming with beautiful projects with a European tour, their presence as headliner at the "Progressive Nation At Sea" and the release of this fourth and new studio album 'Kaleidoscope'.

Musically the style is based on sounds from progressive rock legends. The bass lines of Pete Trewavas are very present, the keyboards are varied and powerful and in tune with the whole, Roine Stolt's guitar is fabulous and precise and above all Mike Portnoy strike for our great pleasure. Finally Neal Morse's voice (whether we like it or not) remains superb, regularly supported by those of Mike, Neal and Daniel Gildenlöw from Pain Of Salvation.

The opus features three tracks in a classical format of 5-6 min and two epic tracks of 27 and 35 min. These two titles are quite complex and well representative of what Transatlantic use to offer to with its previous productions. The shorter tracks and in particular "Shine" and "Beyond The Sun" are simple and a bit too honeyed, certainly oriented for the US market and radios. It's probably for this reason that "Shine" is the title track released as a preview for the album, a questionable choice since it's so unremarkable. The other short track is better constructed with a vocal that will remind us of Steve Hogarth's in the choruses and which proposes a sublime instrumental part in which all the musicians express themselves in chorus. The third track in this format, "Black As The Sky", is built like a hard Rock track, especially in terms of vocals and choruses, distilling in a rather surprising way the scent of Iron Maiden"!

It will be quite difficult to describe the two big epics of the album "Into The Blue" and "Kaleidoscope". Built on an equivalent basis, namely a convoluted introduction, a development around the main theme in 4 or 5 parts, a catchy chorus and finally a cover of the theme at the end of the song, they are inspired by the 70's prog music that fed our 4 friends but with a sound and styles that have been reworked, digested and modernised. They give themselves thoroughly in their respective fields by proposing as usual chained themes, orphéons always well done, breaks or improvisations. These two epics, very thorough and well done, give purely enjoyable moments with notably cello passages played by Chris Carmichael, which bring a real plus to the band.

Once again, some will say that Transatlantic does not propose anything new and is content to reproduce what they have already done in the past. Nevertheless, due to its technical quality and its above-average production, "Kaleidoscope" remains a fascinating album to own absolutely.

Note: The album is also available in a double CD format with a cover CD and a "making off" DVD.
- Official website

TRACK LISTING:
01. Into The Blue
02. Shine
03. Black As The Sky
04. Beyond The Sun
05. Kaleidoscope

LINEUP:
Mike Portnoy: Chant / Batterie
Neal Morse: Chant / Guitares / Claviers
Pete Trewavas: Chant / Basse
Roine Stolt: Chant / Guitares
   
(0) MIND(S) FROM OUR READERS    
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(2) COMMENT(S)    
 
 
NIURKY
16/04/2014
 
80
0
Non, non et non : c'est du collage, c'est lourdeau, ca manque d'inspiration, on a complètemet perdu la fraicheur des débuts et les influences jazz-rock pour une soupe symphonico hard ou les frappes de Portnoy tombent de plus en plus à plat. Et que dire de cette catastrophe chantée en plein milieu du titre Kaleidoscope (à partir de 14:30)? Et que dire de ces sons de claviers utilisés par Morse et qui feraient presque passer Ruddess pour un expérimentateur avisé ? Et que dire ce final en fade-out sur Kaleidoscope indigne d'un groupe de cette trempe ? Véritablement très très décu par cet album qui conserve tous les défauts de Whirlwind (lourdeur et emphase) pour nous les imposer cette fois-ci sur des plages beaucoup plus longues, je m'en vais réécouter All of the Above ou Stranger in your Soul pour me souvenir de ce qui a fait de groupe un groupe immense, il y a déjà plus de 10 ans.
NICO
14/02/2014
 
1
0
TAMBU123Je suis assidûment Transatlantic depuis ses débuts. On peut dire que j'ai été définitivement contaminé par le prog avec ce groupe. "SMPTe" et "Bridge Across Forever" ont été de véritables chocs musicaux pour moi. Et si j'ai moins accroché au lourdaud "The Whirlwind", je plonge à nouveau dans le grand bouillon musical avec ce "Kaleidoscope". C'est miraculeux de voir que la formule magique fonctionne toujours et à merveille. Quelle maîtrise, quelle inventivité, quel talent! Cette musique est à la fois complexe et accessible. L'alchimie de la bande atteint ici son apogée. Oui c'est un vrai miracle. Mon disque de chevet pour l'année qui vient. Au moins.
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