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TANGLED IN DREAM
This, the second disk from this Australian outfit, Vanishing Point, has garnered some good press on the underground.
They might easily be dismissed, on the first listen as (yet another) Dream Theater clone - but further listens reveal a real talent for song-writing and a style which is all their own. Though they do, at times, demonstrate a heavy side, this is never to the detriment of the melodic nature of their compositions and perhaps they could be said to be closer in style to melodic German prog-metal bands like Dreamscape and Ivory Tower. There is more emphasis on songs and melody than sheer technical dexterity, and it is no surprise to see that the disk has been picked up by German Label, LMP, for a European release.
Their lineup features Danny Olding on keys, Jack Lukic on drums, Joe Del Mastro on bass, the twin guitar attack of Tom Vucur and Chris Parcianko and Silvio Massaro on vocals. Silvio has a very pleasant yet
powerful voice and delivers a dynamic performance which never sees him over stretch himself.
Jack Lukic provides some great drumming - but the topping for me is some excellent guitar playing from Tom Vucur and Chris Porcianko, which is always powerful, melodic and totally appropriate. No showy axe man work here - everything is in keeping with the music as a whole. The producer and arranger helps bring it all together and the result is, to these ears, very satisfying indeed.
The disk opens with 'Surreal', driven by the twin guitar attack and keys. The warmth of Silvio's voice is immediately apparent, and the song features the first of many memorable choruses on the disk.
Many of the songs have a deep philosophical angle to them and with track two they deal with 'Samsara', which means "The cycle of birth and death" in Sanskrit. Showcasing some great singing from
Silvio and a tasty guitar and synth solo it really kick starts the disk.
The slightly more down to earth issue of relationships is the subject of 'Closer Apart' which begins with a chunkier guitar sound but soon develops into a catchy number with great playing from all of the band.
Once again there is the sort of chorus which works its way into your memory banks and which, in another age, might have made this a hit.
Things slow down for 'Bring on the Rain', which builds nicely from a start that features just piano and drums and culminates in a sweet guitar solo.
In contrast, 'Never Walk Away' begins very heavily before the main riff appears.
Silvio's almost spoken intro over the bass line adds to the slightly menacing air before the tune picks up pace for the chorus. There is a further excellent demonstration of dual guitar interplay and great playing in the keys and drum departments too.
'The Real You' shows the band slowing down again. It is a fine ballad with Silvio accompanied by acoustic guitars and is another number with a great chorus.
Following the faster paced, hard-rocking 'Two Minds One Soul' and its blistering guitar solo; 'I Will Awake' is another number which sees the band demonstrating their harder edge.
By contrast the following track, 'Dancing with the Devil', composed by Pep Sammartino is a slow ballad which sees Silvio accompanied by Danny on piano.
Sampled dialogue and orchestrations adds further atmosphere making it one of the highlights of the disk.
'Father (7 Years)' begins with a plaintive synth solo then builds, via a combination of acoustic guitar and piano, into an altogether much heavier number with excellent lyrics too. The final track 'Tangled in
Dream' is another brief, slowish ballad featuring delightful keys and percussion and yet another outstanding performance from Silvio.
After this there are two "bonus tracks": 'Inner Peace' is a fairly unremarkable heavy number, culled from the debut album, featuring a pounding guitar/bass combination and a tasteful guitar solo.
The final bonus track on the Australian pressing (which is the version I have) is a cover of Pink Floyd's 'On the Turning Away'. It is not a Pink Floyd number that I am familiar with and, for a moment, the
guitar playing had me thinking it was a number by 80's Scottish popsters 'Big Country'.
Overall this disk came as a very pleasant but welcome surprise. I find it hard to find fault with because the parts fit together so well and one has a sense that a lot of work and craft went into the writing,
performing and arranging of the songs, which are just that - songs, not numbers or tracks, but real compositions. The final result is a well-crafted and accomplished disk that is very satisfying indeed.
Charlie 28/02/01
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