Frameshift - Unweaving The Rainbow

Year of Release: 2003
Label: ProgRock Records
Catalog Number: n/a
Format: CD
Total Time: 00:00:00

Frameshift - Unweaving The Rainbow (Part 2 of 1)

When this album first came out, I was pretty cynical of its contents. Suffice to say, it's not Dream Theater and maybe that's why it flew completely off the radar. I told myself I would put it back on the shelf and revisit it after a long sabbatical. Since that time, I've been in awe with all -- yes all -- of Henning Pauly's productions.

A third of the decade away from my initial stance and I've come full circle. As I begin to shuffle through these songs for a second time, I'm in awe with him again.

While it's the same material, it doesn't seem to have the same disorganized vibe I originally thought it did. Instead, I see a foundation that lifts Labrie's vocals to another majestic plain and precipitous meridian. It's a showcase of his voice, but also of Pauly's ability to structure an even base for a talented singer to swim in.

In songs like "River Out Of Eden," he powders on the elements lightly. That's as early as track four. As soon as five, he adds his signatures, which consist of swift, but short-lived instrumental wonderment. "Message From The Mountain" is the song in this slot that offers up these intelligent trademarks.

After two entertaining tracks, I was ready to alter my evaluation and chalk my views up as imprudent. Ironically, this doesn't even begin to address the song that wowed me most.

By nine, I was forced to significantly renovate my opinions as this recent experience couldn't even supply a meager trace of déjà vu.

The song I'm referencing is "Arms Race" and it's easily what I'd consider my favorite on this album.

As a sidebar, it would be the perfect song for that new movie, The Covenant, soon to appear in theaters. They're separated by several years, but one can't help making the comparison when LaBrie sings, "One grows strong, the other grows stronger." It's a fit whether in the trailer, soundtrack, the body of the movie, or the credits.

Other interesting facts while we're at it: the album features owner and president of ProgRock Records on keyboards in "Nice Guys Finish First." It also features and debuts Little Atlas' Steve Katsikas playing saxophone in the second to last song, "Bats."

Additionally, Pauly finds a way to effectively integrate a banjo into "Cultural Genetics." When you hear the song, it's almost as if it belongs there.

Aside from that, the whole album has an intrinsic worth. Nevertheless, the aforementioned song is a prelude and foreshadowing to a resplendent career and looking back, I wish I altered my initial assessment. [Joshua previously reviewed this title elsewhere -ed.]

The good news is that Pauly's in his prime and has a lot more in store for his disciples. From this point on; I'm a huge fan of his efforts. My mistake if I ever exhibited doubt.

While Absence Of Empathy will always deserve a higher ranking, at least with me, Unweaving The Rainbow earns a better rating. So, whatever I said before, feel free to bump the grade up and scribble out the red marks.

Tracklisting:
Above The Grass - Part 1 (0:43) / The Gene Machine (5:32) / Spiders (4:13) / River Out Of Eden (5:40) / Message From The Mountain (9:56) / Your Eyes (2:56) / La Mer (5:54) / Nice Guys Finish First (5:43) / Arms Races (8:33) / Origins And Miracles (5:06) / Off The Ground (5:49) / Walking Through Genetic Space (4:07) / Cultural Spaces (4:23) / Bats (3:58) / Above The Grass - Part 2 (6:51)

Musicians:
James LaBrie - vocals
Henning Pauly - electric and acoustic guitars, bass, synthesizer, piano, B3, Warr guitar, banjo, hand percussion, loop programming, orchestration, engineer and mixer
Eddie Marvin - drums
Nik Guadagnoli - additional bass, guitar and Chapman Stick

Discography:
Unweaving The Rainbow (2003)
An Absence Of Empathy (2005)

Genre: Progressive-Power Metal

Origin US

Added: August 30th 2006
Reviewer: Joshua "Prawg Dawg" Turner
Score:
Artist website: www.frameshift2.com
Hits: 3904
Language: english