IN CONTINUUM: Acceleration Theory (PROGRESSIVE ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

2013 saw the release of "Dimensionaut", the first album of Sound of Contact, a group led by Dave Kerzner and Simon Collins, unanimously acclaimed both for its intrinsic musical quality and for its ability to offer music that is both progressive and accessible to the greatest number of people.

A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since then, between successive announcements of separation, reformation, re-separation... Meanwhile, Dave Kerzner was leading a career marked by solo projects, collaborations (Mantra Vega with Heather Findlay in particular), yessian and squirian tribute (which is almost the same thing), until the announcement of the In Continuum project, the outcome of which is the publication at the beginning of 2019 of the first part of "Acceleration Theory", which can be considered as a continuation of Sound of Contact.

This romantic-galactic concept is set in 2074 and tells the story of an (charming) alien who came to Earth to prevent a potential attack by her people on humans... We will leave it to you to read the full story in the album booklet.

About the music, Dave Kerzner has surrounded himself with a very solid team, completed by some prestigious guests. After a majestic symphonic instrumental introduction proposed by the title track, "Crash Landing" will quickly put us in the general atmosphere of the album: a bright and shimmering neo-progressive, full of memorable melodies supported by top-level instrumentalists, with a wonderfull Marco Minnemann behind the drums. This first sung track takes us in the footsteps of RPWL.

But the references to the great elders Genesis, and by extension Steve Hackett here present, or Yes (represented by Jon Davison as a guest, but also by Jon Anderson credited as composer on 'Meant to Be') in the 80's period are also present. The mix gives us a very inspired, powerful progressive, from the quasi pop single ('Be the Light') to the more tortured epic ('Hands of Time'), the latter juggling syncopated rhythms, metal passages and a strong tribute to Genesis and Steve Hackett, all against a background of oriental melody, before John Wesley comes up with some well-sounding riffs. Moreover, the already delighted listener will also be offered a little bit of limited electro rock space ('AlienA'), but also some beautiful guitar tapping sequences and some orchestral instruments which will regularly add a symphonic dimension.

Keeping the Sound of Contact philosophy, Dave Kerzner produces a new progressive album mixing modernity and tradition, not deviating from a line of conduct consisting in making all this accessible to the greatest number of people. Perfectly executed, this first part is only waiting for the publication of its sequel. - Official website

IN CONTINUUM

ACCELERATION THEORY

AUTRE LABEL

PROGRESSIVE ROCK