Adamson, Gary - Into Light

Year of Release: 1999
Label: Water's Edge Music
Catalog Number: n/a
Format: CD
Total Time: 57:42:00

The opening chords of this wonderful album are rightfully called "First Light," sounding very symphonic and classical, like the first rays of sunshine opening a new day, making way for the playful "Shine On." The moment the rhythm sets in, it becomes very commercial and much less progressive, barring Gary Adamson's voice, which sounds exactly like the high pitched voice we all love so well: that of Jon Anderson! The way the songs are composed prove that Adamson knows his trade. In fact, it's the least one can expect from someone who wrote and produced the theme music for the Emmy nominated Disney television series "Secrets Of The Animal Kingdom."

By incorporating influences of Yes, The Beatles, The Beach Boys and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Gary pays a lot of attention to the vocal harmonies in order to create well-crafted pop songs which, although not containing loads of complex arrangements, will certainly please the prog lover who's always on the lookout for interesting material. "A Place" is pure barbershop harmonies, whilst "Turns To Silence" in a way holds the magic I found in the music of bands such as Ambrosia and Charlie in the seventies. "Over And Over" kicks off with a short Steve Howe soundalike guitar solo before all attention is once again steered in the direction of Gary's singing, but eventually evolving in pure FM rock. Because of the synthesized horns "Don't Walk Away" has a certain funky feel all over.

Adamson might not really hit the highest notes struck so often by Jon Anderson or Terry Luttrell (Starcastle) but the way his voice blends with the music, as in "Out There," is really something to look out for and to fully appreciate. One of the highlights here has to be the guitar input both electric and acoustic. As is the case with Jon Anderson, Gary is also inspired by South-American rhythms in "Closer." Then two different parts melt together into one ingeniously called "Masters Of Time" and the uptempo "Matter Of Time" with a great vocal line by Gary flowing nicely with the music. In edited form this could well be a radio favourite. The album closes with the longest track on the CD, "Aurora," a great ballad with, once again, some divine harmonies that could well be from the book of tricks of Richard Carpenter for all I know. Tucked away in the arrangement are also some Byrds-like guitar chords courtesy of David Hirschman, one of the four guitarists active on this album.

If you're looking for loads of complex rhythm changes and trillions of solos then I'm afraid this won't be your album, but if on the other hand you're on the lookout for an inventive Jon Anderson soundalike singer-songwriter who seems to have found the key to blending commercial sounding, well-crafted songs with a dash of prog flavour then you have reached the right address.

Tracklisting:
First Light (1:21) / Shine On (5:19) / Into Light (3:52) / A Place (0:53) / Turns To Stone (5:15) / Over And Over (4:36) / Don't Walk Away (3:56) / Out There (5:46) / All We Need (4:42) / Watching Hoping Waiting (4:57) / Closer (4:18) / Masters Of Time (2:05) / Matter Of Time (4:16) / Aurora (6:19)

Musicians:
Gary Adamson - lead, background vocals, drums, percussion, piano, organ, bass, synthesizers
Michael Garner - bass, acoustic guitar
David Herschman - 6 and 12 string, acoustic and electric guitars
Pat Jones - 6 and 12 string, acoustic and electric guitars
Richard Steele - 6 and 12 string, acoustic and electric guitars
Tim Curtin - 6 string acoustic and electric guitars

Discography:
Into Light (1999)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin US

Added: April 19th 2001
Reviewer: John "Bobo" Bollenberg

Artist website: www.adamsongs.com
Hits: 3809
Language: english