Momentum

When talking about the most productive and high-quality-maintaining artists in the wide-ranging rock/metal scene, men like Devin Townsend often are rightfully brought up. For my money though, the guy with the most stellar track record in this department is prog rock maestro Neal Morse. Since departing from the helm of Spock’s Beard in 2002, Morse has released a staggering 19 solo LPs. And that’s only when counting his “regular” solo albums, the Worship Sessions-records focusing more directly on his spiritual and hymnal material, cover albums and live CDs. Slap on all DVD-releases, official demo and singles collections, his work with Transatlantic, Flying Colors and you'll…well you see what I’m getting at here? Maintaining stellar quality through such a volume of releases is mind-bogling. In 2012, just a year removed from the splendid Testimony 2-album, out came Momentum. Neal had some, seized it and RAN with it, resulting in magnificently melodic prog and one of the best albums of the year. The title track and Weathering Sky offer what could be thought of as the “traditional” rockers here, plenty of pace, washes of vocal harmonies and good times all around. Thoughts Part 5 continues the progtastic tempo-trickering series that was started with Thoughts all the way back in 1996 on Spock’s Beard’s second album, Beware Of Darkness. For the fact hounds, no there is no Part 4 thus far whereas I understand Part 3 was seemingly scheduled to be on the upcoming Spock’s Beard-record (co-written by Neal) but now it has been re-named Afterthoughts. Confused yet? That’s prog humour for ya. Coming back to this record, Smoke and Mirrors nicely fills in the ballad quota while Freak digs out the Beatles-style string sections for a very fulfilling old timey vibe for a musical fossil such as myself. But above all this great stuff looms the mammoth opus, World Without End, clocking in at a whopping 33 minutes and change. Not a single second is wasted. In true prog-fashion, morse has been pretty systematic of having one of these epics on his albums and how he can still make such a brilliant one with the hooks, the musicianship, the rocking, the metallic virtuosity, the tender interludes…everything so right and make that half an hour + feel so brief yet enchanting…just a sign of a special musician. Probably my favourite single track of the whole year. When you have trusted long-time bass man Randy George and one Mike Portnoy anchoring down the rhythms with several guest musicians including guitar wizard Paul Gilbert providing extra spices, the record's lofty status becomes elementary. Superb production job as well, which frankly has never been anything but a given with Morse. What can I say anymore except stop with the fanboying and go listen through Momentum again? Praise the Prog!