David K Jones - Scenes From The Dreaming Room - Progressive Voyages Review

One thing I've found in reviewing Progressive music is that some musicians you really seem to connect with on a deeper level, When this happens it is a very satisfying moment, Even whilst I appreciate such times, I completely understand that the relationship is at the artists discretion and of their choosing.

So it makes it very satisfying for me as an amateur when these people allow my some access into their own creative world, Such is the case with David K Jones, a great bassist and musician who has worked with Plenty, The Mousetrap Factory and The Swan Chorus and more recently with Tim Bowness, So when he contacted me to tell me that he was making a new solo album, But its not very Proggy so you might not want to review it! I was in!

The album is called Scenes From The Dreaming Room and if not fully Prog it is certainly Prog adjacent, Futhermore it has some great prog guests appearing these include John Wilkinson of Ellesmere, Mama and The Swan Chorus, also appearing is Mark Abrahams of Wishbone Ash, Brian Hulse (Tim Bowness/Plenty) Anthony Wreatham (Random Option) to name but a few,

The album has 10 scenes or tracks, which cover a variety of themes from a faded rockstar, Climate Change, Misuse of the English language amongst others.

It commences with the song The Dreaming Room which is about a faded rock stars struggles to find a place where he can be free of his past, this is voiced superbly by John Wilkinson, This open with a great sound of keyboards and synthesisers, before David's muscular bass appears, providing a solid bottom end to proceedings, there iss a good guitar solo from Darren Dean of the silver dogs and some great synthesiser parts at the conclusion of the track.

Over Exposure is next this is a very Organ driven song which has a brooding intensity to it alongside some strong bass work, David adds the guitar to this track with Peter Goddard (The Mousetrap Factory) providing the vocals, i like thissong the more I hear it actually after not being overimpressed initially.

Next track is Excuses , this again features the second appearance of John Wilkinson on vocals, this is another interesting song although I can't really grasp its meaning, I do know it was a track written by David and Tim Bowness for Plenty but was not used hence its appearance here.

Souled Out Man is next this features Helen May (The Violet Hearts) on vocals and she does an excellent job of it all, The song uses a string of expressions in its lyrics to represent someone who is musically driven but struggling in his life.

Great guitar solo from Darren Dean again and some fine synth embellishments too make this another strong track.

A Secret Place follows and this has a strident bass upfront, and a very 80s sound to it,, Peter Goddard sings on this one and again hearing it again it sounds much better than my initial iressions of it were.

Once again Darren Dean delivers a truly graceful solo for the song in tandem with excellent rhythmic support from David's Bass and the drums of James Cooper who is in strong form throughoutnthe album.

Next track is Rhythm Of Love which is a song originally performed by David in his days with The Fantasy Option here he reunites with Geraint Parry who plays guitar whilst Anthony Wreatham provides Piano, Organ and other keyboards, this is another strong track beautifully revisited and reimagined.

Too Many Words is next this is about using language, Itnis a very cleverly written song, once again, A track that i though was inconsequential reveals that it has hidden strengths and is actually a really good song. I like the chugging bass line and excellent keyboards I even like Peter Godddards vocals here.

Waste Of Time follows, again this is a reworked version of a song that David performed with his acoustic duo Darker Than Amber witth Fil Ziebricki, As I've never heard the original ideas can't compare it although I'm sure this is the superior version due to the presence of both John Wilkinson (vocals) and Simon D'Vali (Mana) on guitar this has become my favourite song of the album.it is very spectacular here.

Smile Of A Ghost is next and is the albums Penultimate track, it is also the albums longest at 7 minutes duration.

It also has a very busy opening section where gets to stŕetch out a little on his bass, which sounds awsome here, The percussion is used to equally great effect in this very atmospheric track.

Join Hands concludes the album in style, it has an interesting set of lyrics about various Superheroes and film characters and extorts us to Join hands together although quite why is not entirely clear or apparent.

If you purchase the download you will also receive the bonus track Think Of Me which is an updated version of a song written for David's first solo album Days In Corners, it is voiced by Helen May again.

Recently I wrote a tag ilne for the album that was recently published in Prog Magazine where I said It is an album of Intelligently Crafted and written Tracks, With the Title track The Dreaming Room being especially strong and compelling, All marking this outvas an album to savour as you listen.

That was a good synopsis then and it still is now upon its release I strongly commend it to all

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