Oblivion Sun - Oblivion Sun

Year of Release: 2007
Label: Prophase Music
Catalog Number: MVDA4648
Format: CD
Total Time: 44:37:00

In what I believe to be my last review for 2007, the old adage "saving the best for last" applies. The debut CD from Oblivion Sun has been in constant rotation on my iPod, and is without question my favorite release of 2007. Oblivion Sun is made up of Happy The Man alumni Stan Whitaker (guitar) and Frank Wyatt (keyboards/sax), and follows in the rich tradition of that great band. Whitaker and Wyatt have been very busy, releasing last years Pedal Giant Animals, and now with a full blown band they have come full circle. The supporting cast of Bill Plummer (keyboards/Moog), Dave DeMarco (bass), and Chris Mack (drums/percussion) are great musicians and make their presence felt.

Oblivion Sun mixes instrumentals pieces with two vocals tracks. Although I prefer not to compare them to Happy The Man, lets just say there are many similarities (no big surprise) and we will leave it at that. The CD opens with "Fanfare," combining the heavy guitars with softer keyboard passages. Wyatt shows his compositional prowess, constantly building tension, then tearing it down, only to bring it back around again. There are so many aspects to their music, and no note is wasted. Melody is combined with space and interesting rhythms, this music breathes. "The Ride" puts Whitaker's guitar out front, adding an aggressive element. The use of horns, while at times subtle, adds depth to the sound. This is one to listen to if you enjoy keyboard and guitar solos, they tear it up in this one. "Noodlepoint" is a track written by keyboardist Bill Plummer, and fits right into the band's sound. It has some intertwining lines between guitar and keyboard that reminds me of King Crimson, with Wyatt's sax getting a chance to step out. "Catwalk" is the second vocal track, and what is intriguing to me is at 5:02 the song morphs into a keyboard section that drips of Wind And Wuthering-era Genesis; simply put, it's a gorgeous melody.

"No Surprises" again shows how well the band can blend the instrumentation and make it all work together. A strong guitar riff opens with Wyatt's sax over the top. Whitaker then lays down the foundation for the second soloist, this time Plummer on the Moog. DeMarco and Mack shift the tempos with ease, so you really have to listen close to realize that, although it may sound smooth, this is some difficult stuff to pull off. To top it off, the melodies that lie within each song are strong, and continue to dance in your head long after the CD stops playing. The Plummer-Smith penned "RE:Bootsy" combines guitar and sax in the opening melody, with a poppy Fender Rhodes sound in the background. The guitar and keyboard tradeoffs get this one smoking, and I can imagine this is a real show stopper live. The band revives the Pedal Giant Animals track "Chapter 7.1" for a little rework. "Tales Of Young Whales" and "Golden Feast" close the disc, and both fit in with the best work that Happy The Man ever produced.

Oblivion Sun have put together a remarkable debut. This is a band, as all members really stand out over the course of the CD. I am thanking my lucky stars that Frank Wyatt and Stan Whitaker decided to continue to make music, and took the time to find the right musicians to join them. Oblivion Sun have created music that is exciting, fresh, melodic, and played to perfection. I can't wait to hear more!

[Drummer Mack can also be found in the bands Iluvatar and Puppet Show; DeMarco can be found in his own Dave DeMarco Band as well as The Rat Pack and BiggerBetterFasterMore. -ed.]
Tracklisting:
Fanfare (4:42) / The Ride (5:07) / Noodlepoint (3:51) / Catwalk (7:40) / No Surprises (3:36) / RE : Bootsy (3:29) / Chapter 7.1 (3:35) / Tales of Young Whales (5:53) / Golden Feast (6:45)

Musicians:
Stan Whitaker - guitars,vocals
Frank Wyatt - keyboards, sax
Bill Plummer - keyboards, Moog
Dave DeMarco - bass
Chris Mack - drums, percussion

Discography:
Oblivion Sun (2007)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin US

Added: December 9th 2007
Reviewer: Eric Porter
Score:
Artist website: oblivionsun.homestead.com/home.html
Hits: 4397
Language: english