Persephone's Dream - Pyre Of Dreams


Year of Release: 2007
Label: self-released
Catalog Number: NGC-4650a
Format: CD
Total Time: 71:19:00

I first heard material from this album back in 2003 when Rowen Poole (guitars, keyboards, synths) allowed me to hear demo versions of a few tracks. After hearing them, I was all set to declare Synesthesia my album of the year. The track that stood out for me then (and now) is "Android Dreams." But setbacks, including the flooding of their studio when Pennsylvania was afloat in rain, and personnel changes delayed the release of this album until now; it was released in May 2007 as Pyre Of Dreams.

So ... what can you expect from Pyre Of Dreams? Progressive rock with a dash of metal thrown in. It's a slinky, smoky affair that for the most part remains mellow, dark and throbby. If I had to pin down the band's sound here, I'd need more than one pin, since there are various elements all woven together. It's not in anyway a chaotic or non-flowing mix of styles. No, this all seems very organic; almost like a concept album in the way it easily flows from one moment, one mood, to another. Part of its flow and seductiveness is owed to vocalists Colleen Grey and Heidi Engel. Grey possesses one of those rich, sweet and sultry voices that imbues the tracks with a strong emotional and emotive content. Engel's voice is equally strong and sultry, but in a different way - in fact, she I'd say she most sounds like Christina Amphlett (DiVinyls). Her voice soars and is "sweeter" then Grey's, but also manages to have an earthy undertone, as heard on the seductive "Aphrodite" ... but then Aphrodite was the goddess of love and fertility, so you'd expect her to be a seductress, no? And although it is not what she sings, there's one line that does sound like "breed with me" (it's "breathe"), but thinking it struck me as funny. Engel also takes lead on "Nimiane," "Soliloquy" and the "Camlann" section of "Temple Of Time." They are worthy inheritors of the role from Karin Nicely, who was the band's previous vocalist. ...

The metal-tinged, funky-ish "Synesthesia," the rocking "Android Dreams," and "Nightfall" all sizzle. "Synesthesia" features acidic guitars, keyboards that fall between twinkly and parpy, and bass lines with attitude. You'll find some widdly, growly, "proggy" organ, too. The bridge features sinewy, melodic guitar phrases and percussion that recalls Rush (think "XYZ" - the use of blocks - and "Mystic Rhythms" and, in terms of the guitar, the Signals period style of Alex Lifeson's playing). It's a track that ensnares you and doesn't let go.

Although I don't intend to compare final versions to the demos, I will in this one case. My favorite track on the demos was "Android Dreams," and the power and "cool-ness" of the track remains in its final incarnation. It's rockier than many of the other pieces, lots of keyboards and synths, rumbling percussion. If anything, it's a bit darker than the demo I recall ... It flirts with a danceable beat, but is just enough rock enough that you wouldn't really consider it "dance music." It was inspired by Blade Runner, the movie made of the Philip K. Dick novel Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep and is part two of "Electronic Exotic," which appeared on their Moonspell album.

"Nightfall," a track inspired by the Asimov story of the same title, is a cool and slinky piece, and one of the stand-out tracks, the chorus of which will pleasantly haunt you long after the CD has ended. It swirls about in dark mystery, these mists rendered by sometimes delicate, sometimes harsh guitar phrases and the washes of keyboards. Throughout, we get a dangerously growly bass.

"Cryptoendelith" is a rhythmic, percussion only instrumental performed by Scot Harvey; more electronic music than prog rock/metal; or in other words... a piece that could easily accompany a computer animation clip. My association is to James Reynolds' "The Temple" (from The Mind's Eye, which was a marrying of computer animation and music), one that I have referenced before.

Interestingly, it is followed by the multi-part suite "Temple In Time," which begins with "Mist," a mostly flowing, romantic piece with eddying swirls of keyboard and guitar, that does get enveloped into darker moods in the middle. It's a lovely, powerful piece that includes the percussive rhythms from "Cryptoendelith"... and some male vocals that could be guest DC Cooper who appears elsewhere (though he's not credited here), but is probably Poole. So, you see, there's some concept-ery going on - this one not based on a SF book but Arthurian Legend*. The latter four pieces of the suite flow together, maintaining a linking undercurrent even as the main part of the composition ranges from very atmospheric to heavily rhythmic. "Nimiane" begins this part of the suite and is atmospheric... mysterious? and haunting, especially in Engel's delivery; the voice of Nimiane is Kelly Fletcher.

Martial is how "Soliloquy Of A King" can be described, here lead vocals are handled by DC Cooper. You can hear pain and regret in his delivery, as Arthur feels his life fleeing him, knowing that this is the end. This percussive heavy, martial approach is continued and increased in "Camlann" with the addition of bass. Cooper's vocals here perfectly fit the arrangement, mostly in the mid-range, adding to the dark nature of the setting - Arthur's last battle. The concluding piece, "Avalon," brings us back to swirling atmospheres, chiming guitar, throbbing bass? being the middle ground between the beginning and middle of this suite. I especially like the bass lines that introduce each segment of the track (I thought, "cool!" upon first hearing them), and the intricate bass phrases that saunter about the percussion and vocals during the main part of the piece. In as much as this is a showcase for Grey, it's also a showcase for bassist John Lally* (it's his work heard on 6 of the tracks, or segments; Chris Siegle handles the remainder).

The concept of the suite taps into Arthurian Legend. Merlin fell in love with Nimiane (Nimue or Vivien in other texts?) and taught her his enchantment skills - if you recall, his enchantment made Igraine see Uther Pendragon as her husband, and she begat Arthur. Nimiane in turn entrapped Merlin - again, different versions have different results. Camlann is often given as the site of Arthur's last battle, when in defeating his son Mordred (or Modred) he, too, died (or at least was gravely injured)... and sent off to Avalon (which is said by some to be Glastonbury...). That's what I can give you in a nutshell, at least... Arthurian Legend is rich and varied, there is no one version; any historical record either doesn't exist or has been lost in the mists of time.

All these tracks make this one awesome release. However, there is one track that, while very good, doesn't grab me like the rest of the tracks. That's the smoldering opening track, "Threnody," which is perhaps a little too moody, which makes it a bit "slow." But the performances are solid, what with the taut percussion, tight yet chiming guitar phrases, and the rich mix. There are many subtleties that I think are lost in the mix, but overall, it is a very nice track.

"Alien Embassy," based on the novel of the same name by Ian Watson, would be another strong track except... except for the drums. This is perhaps, to my ears, the biggest, and only real, flaw. They have a drumming-on-milk-jugs sound about them -- a hollow, deadened sound --mixed too high, too. The percussion around them is fine, the vocals are wonderful... but... well, I won't harp on it because this is not what you should remember about this CD.

There are two bonus tracks - "Soliloquy Of A King - Lady Of The Lake Mix" and "Camlann - Lady Of The Lake Mix" where instead of Cooper, it's - I believe - Engel on lead vocals. They are equally good and don't take away anything from Cooper's performance... meaning it's hard to say which is "better."**

All in all, the long wait for Pyre Of Dreams was worth it. While it's still too early to say whether this will be the album of the year for me, it still rates high on my list for 2007?

[This was later released by ProgRock Records]

*sadly, Lally passed away in July 2007.
** yes, another footnote. Another version of this album, a special edition available from the band, had a different mix of tracks, making the bonus tracks here the main tracks there, and the main here there the bonus tracks...). In fact, it also has entirely different booklet artwork and layout ... the ProgRock Records edition is the edition reviewed here.


Tracklisting:
Threnody (7:08) / Synesthesia (5:30) / Nightfall (4:47) / Cryptoendolith (1:34) / Temple In Time - I. Mist (6:18) - II. Nimiane (2:43) - III. Soliloquy Of A King (2:57) - IV. Camlann (4:04) - V. Avalon (7:14) / Android Dreams (5:02) / Aphrodite (8:06) / Alien Embassy (9:05) / Bonus: Soliloquy Of A King - Lady Of The Lake Mix (2:57) / Camlann - Lady Of The Lake Mix (3:47)

Musicians:
Rowen Poole - 6, 7, and 12 string electric and acoustic guitar, keyboards, synthesizers
John Tallent - percussion, bells, whistles, birds, marble trees, and other odd sounds
Steven Hogue - acoustic and electronic drums
Kelly Fletcher - additional percussion, the voice of Nimiane
Colleen Gray - vocals (1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 10, 12)
Heidi Engel - vocals (6, 11, 13, 14), backing vocals (9, 12)
John Lally - bass (2, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
James Waugaman - keyboards, organs, and pianos
Scot Harvey - drums (4)
DC Cooper - vocals (7, 8); backing vocals (1, 3, 10, 12)
Ed Wiancko - drums (8)
Chris Siegle - bass (2, 5, 3, 12)

Discography:
Evening Mirage (1997)
Moonspell (1999)
Opposition (2001)
Pyre Of Dreams (2007)
Pan: An Urban Pastoral (2010)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin US

Added: December 18th 2007
Reviewer: Stephanie Sollow
Score:
Artist website: www.persephonesdream.com
Hits: 3469
Language: english

  

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