Cast - Beyond Reality

Year of Release: 1996
Label: self-released
Catalog Number: ALF-006
Format: CD
Total Time: 60:09:00

Here's another one to add to your list of things to seek out - Cast's Beyond Reality. A wonderful mixture of drama, emotion, complex arrangments, symphonics, classical influences, and neo-progressive stylings.

No, the mixture is nothing new - there are hints of Genesis, Marillion, and all the usual suspects, but there isn't anything directly lifted from any of their influences that I can tell (this is their fifth release).

This is a concept album, which seems to be back in vogue these days. The central conceit here is that man was doomed from the moment knowledge (Adam, Eve, the apple; evolutionary processes) was obtained and only with repurposing ourselves will we find our salvation.

The other part of the theme here is the catalyst: deus ex machina - either spiritual (God) or extraterrestrial (aliens) - or both (God as alien). Rather interesting concept here for a progressive work.

There are four movements each with separate parts (individual tracks), all but two of which are instrumental. The lyrics here are in English, and printed in the booklet. Though, of course, the credits are in Spanish.

There is a bonus track here, Camel's "Another Night" which was recorded for a Camel tribute album.

All in all this a very good album, and comes highly recommended.

[Editor's note: There is a an article about Cast in the Winter/Spring 1998 issue of Progression]

Tracklisting:
The Rescue a) Introduction (5:28) b) Seventh House (8:30) c) The Rescue (7:27) / The North a) Northern Place (7:56) b) All The Way From Nowhere (5:53) / The Mirror's House a) Marcato (Inst.) (5:46) b) The Mirror's House (13:17) / Transparent Symbols (3:14) / Another Night (4:38)

Musicians:
Dino Carlo Brassea - vocals and flute
Jose Antonio Bringas Caire - drums and percussion
Alfonso Vidales - keyboards
Francisco Hernandez - vocals and guitar
Rodolfo Gonzalez Quiroz - bass

Discography:
Landing In A Serious Mind (1993)
Sounds of Imagination (1994)
Third Call (1994)
Four Aces (1995)
Endless Signs (1995)
Beyond Reality (1996)
A View of Cast - Live (1996)
Angels and Demons (1997)
Imaginary Window (1999)
A Live Experience (1999)
Legacy (2000)
Lagunas De Volcanos (2000)
Castalia (2001)
Infinity (2002)
Al-Bandaluz (2003)
Nimbus (2004)
The Pyramid Of The Rain (2005)
Mosaïque (2006)
Com.union (2007)
Originallis (2008)
Art (2011)
Arsis (2014)
Vida (2015)
Power And Outcome (2017)

Sands Of Time Live (BR) (2016)
Sinfonico Live (BR) (2018)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin MX

Added: May 1st 1998
Reviewer: Stephanie Sollow
Score:
Artist website: www.castofficial.com
Hits: 5514
Language: english