The instrumental jam sections are engaging, equally on guitar, synths and violin, and the chorus is one of the best on the album. Elsewhere, the song “You Have It All” starts off in a somewhat straightforward manner (albeit in a time signature of 15) but later reveals special treats as well, including guest vocals from Billy Sherwood and Jon Davison of Yes. Peter Matuchniak delivers a great guitar solo in the “Dreamflow” section but it’s the string quartet that lends the piece a greater sense of grandeur. Andy Catt lays down a simple but defining baseline on which the opening piece “Futureflow” revolves around, sometimes in dizzying ways. The drumming on both pieces (and previous instrumental “Conduit”) is courtesy of Suicidal Tendencies’ Eric Moore who channels an extremely engaging performance, time-signatures flying on the toms. Two epic-length tracks occupy a big swath of the album, “Flowing Through the Change” even boasting five subsections in true prog form. Later on, the swooning “Beautiful Light” is another standout track, accompanied by gorgeous orchestration arranged by Steven Leavitt, full chorus vocals and some choice Howe-ish pedal steel guitar from Andrea Whitt. Intriguingly, the final section transitions into an Eastern-tinged ambient soundscape which then segues to the next song, a nice touch if somewhat surprising. Featuring solos from nearly all the players, ironically Sears doesn’t actually perform on the song but he still gets much credit. ![]() Okumoto also appears on the one instrumental of the album, “Conduit” which is composed by Sears and yet comes off as a spontaneous jam by being recorded live in the studio. With lyrics inviting deeper introspection and music inviting groove with dark intensity, this is an accessible and extremely satisfying song. Jimmy Keegan guests on drums, a perfect fit with his hard-hitting approach, as well as Spock’s keyboard madman Ryo Okumoto on the B3 organ. “Our Test Tube Universe” is surely among them, Sears’ vocal delivery approaching the likes of a modern Kevin Gilbert. There are several standout tracks scattered throughout the album. Indeed, Lobate Scarp seems to ‘Have It All.’ Enlisting the recording, producing, mixing and mastering talents of Rich Mouser and Steven Leavitt, the album is guaranteed to sound fantastic. ![]() First and foremost, however, Adam Sears is the mastermind behind the songwriting, lead vocals and keyboards who the listener senses is primarily responsible for bringing this magic together. While the band is officially comprised of Adam Sears (vocals/ keys), Andy Catt (bass), Peter Matuchniak (guitar), Evan Michael Hart (drums), and Christina Burbano-Jeffrey (violin), the new album features a number of additional musicians and special guests who elevate the album into something truly special. Featuring strong melodies and hooks supported by layers of keyboards, acoustic & electric guitars, thundering bass, top-tier drumming and a host of wind and stringed instruments, Lobate Scarp lays down an extremely satisfying symphonic rock album which makes it worth the wait since their debut ten years ago. That is to say, the two bands seem to inhabit the same universe in their approach to modern prog-rock. ![]() Perhaps it’s no accident that sci-fi-inspired Spock’s Beard follows a similar orbit, musically-speaking, including some personnel who guest on new album “You Have It All”. ![]() Cosmically-titled bands have an inherent progginess to them, even when it is as obscure a reference as a Lobate Scarp.
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