A Multitude Of One - The Book Of Enoch Progressive Voyages Review PV018

A Multitude Of One - The Book Of Enoch

A Multitude of One - 

‘The Book of Enoch’ PV018

Colin Powell is certainly no stranger to the progressive rock scene.  Having been active in music creation in various forms since the 1960’s, it would be fair to say that he has already made many marks on the progressive music genre; most recently as the guitar player for the simply astounding Nova Cascade.   And now, with this veritable arsenal of experience to draw from, and after the success of his previous album ‘The Templar’s Tale’, Powell is back, in the form of the aptly titled project ‘A Multitude of One’, with another fine addition to his music catalogue. 

One of the year’s truly atmospheric  symphonic prog rock offerings; ‘The Book of Enoch’, is concept album which tells the story…. track-by-track with a narrator…. of the biblically-known figure Enoch and his visions and prophecies related to the realms of angels and the kingdom of heaven.  As you will see (and hear), this is a subtle, understated work that abandons flash, fury or technical prowess and instead uses simplicity and a deep ambience to make the narrative story its focal point.  

So…. Join me, won’t you?   Let’s traverse the heavens on gossamer wings, pull from the (admittedly difficult to decipher) texts of old, and take a deeper view of Powell’s ‘The Book of Enoch’.   

‘The 10 Weeks Prophecy’ - a simple piano piece with beautiful and effective harmonization begins our trip through the record, before we are sent into a straight but subtle and softer rock groove with some great guitar work.   The singing is the centerpiece here…. The vocal harmonies are superb and are the focus of the track.

‘The Watcher’s Descent’ - the lyrics here are not so much sung as spoken over an organ piece that would be at home on any classic 70’s prog record.  Musically pleasing, but a little unsettling vocally, this piece is a strange but fun bridge between the prophecy from track one and the visions of destruction we are about to witness in tracks 3 and 4.  

‘Lament of the Nehilim’ - dark, brooding, plodding….these words best describe track 3, the sad denouement of the angel-born giants known as the Nehilim who, because of their past, have been abandoned by the Gods and consigned to perish in the coming floods.  Played in true symphonic prog style, with the sounds of tympani and strings opening and building to a simple piano piece played repeatedly over the lyrics, sung in a semi-monotone fashion; the listener gets a sense of the bleak hopelessness the Nehilim face.  

‘The Great Deluge’ - the lament on track 3 manifests to the flood itself in track 4.   Musically, some interesting choices here, as the narrative, lyrics and vocals stay dark, but the music, even though brooding in tone, is more upbeat in its choice of tempo and feel and is actually carried on a lengthy saxophone solo.   An interesting juxtaposition; listening to the narrator speak of the floods destroying everything over music that doesn’t really evoke those type of images.   Strangely…. It works.  

‘The Hidden Stars’ - symphonic prog briefly starts this track off, but gives way to a more pop-rock prog style; simple drums pound forward with a steady beat and play over guitars and keys.  Once again, the center point is the story itself; the vocals (and this is true throughout the entire album) are clean and easy to listen to and make it simple to understand what’s happening.   The music, to this point on the record, has often been almost an afterthought; a backbone to support and service the story itself, and this track is really no different in that regard.  

‘Enoch’s Flight’ - this track sends us heavenward, to see Enoch’s vision of what lies above.  It is once again simplistic in the musical composition, but beautifully evocative of seeing the sights of the cosmos; we get one of the few guitar’s solo-ish refrains…. brief but effective, and another later in the song, with a little more emphasis added to the solo.   Nothing too flashy, but very well-written to give the song its atmosphere and mood.  

‘Son of Man’ - a march-beat begins this track in the purest of symphonic prog styles, as Enoch’s vision beholds the ‘son of man’ in the clouds.   The guitars mirror and echo the vocal line in the verses, and we have more narration interlaced with the music in this track.   The tempo and feel then picks up and gives us a soft-pop prog feel before giving us one of the more atmospheric and anthemic passages on the album, then dropping back to a softer beat and some good guitar work.   This track is one of the album’s hi-lights thanks to its frequent mood and tone shifts.   

‘The Last Kingdom’ - unlike the rest of the album, narration does NOT start this track; rather the vocals come straight in over the sounds of simple piano and strings.   The narration finally kicks in, but in almost a sing-style, and really gives the track a symphonic, theater-like feel.    This is Enoch’s discovery of the kingdom of heaven, and relies more on the narrative vocal aspect to describe his findings.   The music alternates with the voices as this track winds down, brining us to the record’s finale…. 

‘Enoch’ - the final and (in my opinion) best song on the record, this track is a more or less “summing up” of the listener’s journey.   Once again, piano takes center stage as the voice gives us a description of Enoch and his prophecies and visions.   Very simple musical lines serve to allow focus on the story.   After another narration, set to the ethereal music so prevalent throughout the record, Powell gives us the best keys solo on the record; a pure and awesome nod to the prog of the 70’s.    We then get one final piece of narration that sends us away as the journey concludes.  

‘The Book of Enoch’ is not going to be to everyone’s progressive tastes.  With a lengthy narrative that runs throughout, a heavy reliance on the symphonic style of prog musically, and an album largely devoid of flashy, over-the-top performances instrumentally, this may not appeal to some.   But the understated nature of the music is actually the album’s chief virtue; it is presented to set the mood and the atmosphere in complete service to the narrative story, and in that stead it succeeds marvelously. It is enlivening to have a concept album (which by their nature tell stories) that actually makes the story its focal point and ensures that the listener will be able to hear and understand what story is being told.   This is fully accomplished by Powell on this record.  Those looking for blistering guitar solos, fancy drum work and a wealth of musical time changes need not apply.   But if you’re looking for deftly played symphonic rock with atmosphere and a good and interesting story to tell, then make sure to pick up (or download) a copy of ‘The Book of Enoch’ today.  

Info here: www.amultitudeofone.bandamp.com