What’s one part Spock’s Beard, one part The Flower Kings, one part Marillion, and one part Dream Theater? If you answered “I don’t know, but it sounds super boring.”, you better x out this window now. This is not the review for you. If you’re a prog enthusiast such as myself, read on as I examine the latest album(s) from Transatlantic, The Absolute Universe. Now before I go on, I’d like to clarify that the edition of TAU that I’m reviewing is the “abridged” version…which still clocks in at over an hour. There’s also Forevermore: The Extended Version which features different songs and clocks in at over 90 minutes, as well as an “ultimate edition” that combines both versions. As much as I love my prog, I don’t have the time nor the patience to take 2 and a half hours to listen to a single album, so my take on the abridged version is as good as you’re gonna get.
The Absolute Universe is less an “album” and more a collection of songs that segue into one another to create one giant song. This approach is nothing new. Yes pioneered the approach on 1973’s Tales from Topographic Oceans. Nearly every prog band since has tried their hand at it since. It’s just a matter of how well one can execute this approach. Considering the collective talent of Roine Stolt, Neal Morse, Pete Trewavas, and founder Mike Portnoy is through the roof, one would think Transatlantic could do so rather well. They’d be correct.
Transatlantic’s music may not be simple, but their ethos is: These are old school prog fans playing old school prog and having a good time doing so. Throughout the course of TAU, we’re treated to a potpourri of 70s inspired sounds. Do you prefer the folksy acoustic centric style of Jethro Tull? Check out “Take Now My Soul”. How about emphasis on melody à la Kansas? “Reaching for the Sky” has you covered. Or maybe you live for the intense, cathartic musical whirlwinds of classic Yes? There are plenty of those to be heard throughout, but “The Owl” and “Belong” are my favorite examples of such.
I can go on all day about how excellent the members of Transatlantic are at their respective instruments. However, I’d be doing you, the reader, a disservice if I didn’t mention their vocal abilities as well. The vocals are shared by all four members, with Morse leading the way. In the event you’ve never heard Morse sing before, you’d be forgiven for thinking he was the distant Californian cousin of John Lennon. When the other members join him, the band creates a lush, atmospheric effect as heard on “Higher Than the Morning”, “Can You Feel It”, and “Solitude”.
I’m sure enough of you reading this review will chastise me for “copping out” and only listening to the abridged version of TAU, just as a handful of you chastised me for not enjoying every last moment of the new Todd La Torre album. What can I say? You can’t please everyone, but Transatlantic has pleased me with what I just listened to. If anything, I’m worried any more may taint my listening experience and I wouldn’t want that.
7 out of 10
Label: InsideOut Music
Genre: Progressive Rock
For fans of: Spock’s Beard, Kansas, Yes