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THE UNKNOWN
I am generally impressed with InsideOut Music, a label that has continually released some of the finest CDs to grace my ears this year (Hey, that rhymes! I suck).
I know that progressive rock/metal is really not the most popular musical genre right now (has it ever been?), but it begs for deeper, repeated listening either way. CONSPIRACY is the new project featuring legendary YES bassist/founder Chris Squire who has joined
forces with Yes touring guitarist Billy Sherwood to create a very modern, cohesive and valid album of songs that don't get bogged
down in the progressive swamp land of overblown arrangements, pompous instrumental masturbation or ridiculously silly lyrical
rants about nebulous clouds or dragon slayings (have you ever listened to old Yes - yikes!!!). What this CD clearly demonstrates
is that the team of Squire/Sherwood are far more interested in composing compelling, hook laden songs that stand on their own
without too many overstated details. With the high energy opener 'Conspiracy', the disc immediately begins to take shape: tight
musicianship, strong hooks, and plenty of dynamics and strong vocal harmonies. The production of this disc is top notch (as is
anything InsideOut decides to release) and it's definitely a headphones CD. Fans of the more 'pop' direction Yes took in the early
to mid-eighties, when they were led by the ever talented, but woefully under appreciated Trevor Rabin, will rejoice over this disc.
There are a few moments of prog-rock excess, as is the case with any song that goes over the 7 minute mark, but you can easily
forgive Squire/Sherwood because they deliver the goods on such gems as 'New World', 'Premonitions' and the intense, 11 minute
closer 'The Unknown'. This is definitely one worth checking out.
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