Jamie Parker Do You Dream Of Luminous Things PV054
Jamie Parker Do You Dream Of Luminous Things - Progressive Voyages Review PV054
I came across this rather different, unique and wonderfully quirky album whilst browsing online and what I read definitely piqued my interest enough to contact Jamie about reviewing it fir this site.
Thankfully Jamie has happy for us to Review this album and I can honestly say that it is a most impressive album and that deserves a far wider reach than it is currently receiving
The album consists of just 6 tracks but fret not as the shortest song is over 5 minutes in length too are seven minute plus and the other three are each epics if between 12:35 , 14:47 and the longest is 17:39 duration
You basically are getting an hours worth of some very classy strong and imaginative Progressive Rock Music, the band is a collaborative effort between Jamie and musicians he has known or worked with over the years, This shows clearly in the confidence and imagination that the music embraces and employs to make the most of the space that is afforded to make the most of the creative process and the confidence to stretch and explore the sounds of these songs, this really benefits these track greatly, I like that the collaborators are given space to really dig deep and pull out some incredibly detailed and impressive sounds, this is especially the case on A place I Can Disappear who takes the form of a tale of an early morning bicycle ride in which they are captivating by the things they have seen in the early morning light and the sights and sounds of Bodkin Moor.
Walking In The Land Of Giants is a fine longer track, with some great guitar lines along with a fair degree of welly in the sound, I do like the balance of powerful playing and the contrast in the delicacy of the delivery, The delicate flute of Amy Williams add a great contrast to the harder sounding elements, a good bass line by Jack Ansell also makes a great impression here.
I like this track immensely as it has both great imagination and also displays a lot of skill in how the track evolves between its parts, With some very subtle and yet very satisfying interactions between the various musicians on the song.
A Grief That Does Not Speak is another long track, This has a very strong opening of crunchy guitars alongside a burbling synthesiser motif, which sound glorious, the track settles into a mid-tempo pace with the guitar being very prominent indeed. The sound is further boosted by a saxophone break by Amy Williams and then some staccato guitar playing from Jamie, and thereafter a quieter more delicate section with piano with an echo on it, this song has a multitude of guitarists on it, and as the sax returns they can be heard playing feverishly making quite a dense sounding section of the track, it’s very dynamic sounding, it all sounds glorious taken together, The final section of the track is A more orchestrated part with strings and latterly more sax and guitars rhythmically played played this track gets better each time I hear it really is a very interesting and complex track enlivened by great playing throughout
The Radient is the albums longest track at 17:39, This is the track they initially drew my attention to this fine release. It begins with gentle guitar chords set against broody synthesiser motif, The song is about decay of life it is quite a sombre and hard hitting comment on how we are destroying the world and allowing it to decay before our very eyes, a lengthy synthesiser solo occurs at the 7:20 mark and has echoes of Richard Wright’s playing in his pink Floyd days.
Where he explores textures in his playing this fades to a piano thereafter, and then to Mellotron to give string sounds, this is a stately sounding section which is really bold and stylish as it seeks to espouse Jamie’s deep appreciation for the Progressive music that he grew up hearing.
This track alone makes the album worthy of your attention, but as it is followed by five further track of sheer class and quality it makes a very grand opening statement of intent,
After those keyboards when get some guitar and then the introduction of a serene and stylish Saxophone solo courtesy from Amy Williams,
The song ends with more guitar and is a very impressive piece of music,
Next we have How I Caught The Moon, this is underpinned by some fine organ sounds, and some great vocals sing You So Far Away repeated several times, it also has a great guitar solo at the 5 minute mark but above all it the emotional depth of this song that makes such a good Impression here dealing as it dies with feelings of isolation and loss the song has a sense of seeking acceptance and belonging this is a great track that uses its length to make a deep sense of both feeling and emotion
And that’s it just 6 track but which offer a veritable plethora of classy material mining deep emotions and waters all backed y so e sublime music and spirited intuitive playing from this wonderful collection of collaborations who together have made an album of hidden treasures
Yes, it really is that good, Top Five albums of the year material here for definite
Info here: www.jamieparker.bandcamp.com
Author John Wenlock-Smith