The Inner Road are a self-described ..."symphonic instrumental prog rock band..." Hmmm...attention-grabbing if nothing else. Symphonic can mean so many different things to so many different people. Many a forgetful pop tune had a "symphonic" lead-in and/or fade-out. The Inner Road has managed to raise the ante a bit though...Steve Cresswell is the founder and lead songwriter of the band, and I am certain many a prog fan remembers Coalition, from whose ashes The Inner Road has risen. We can discuss that further in the Liner Notes; for now let's just have a listen...
With a band like The Inner Road it is difficult not to start out grand, so I jump right into this week's prog buffet with a song called "Ascension." Darkness falls over the mood as the the song opens with hints of Dream Theater and Opeth; I find myself waiting expectantly for the window curtains to blow in the breeze. Tensions mount as the mood builds on strong guitars, keyboards, and drums. This is an adult dose right from the start; The Inner Road truly know what it means to perform symphonic prog. As the bell tolls you think the song is winding down...but wait! Another thrashing for the inner lining of your cranium is about to unleash itself. The guitar work on this song is absolutely stunning--crisp as fresh carrots pulled from the garden while striking from six different directions a la Bill Nelson from his Be Bop Deluxe days. It will be hard to top this, but I have to try, right?
Serving number two is a tune called "Two Worlds Two Tomorrows." Once again The Inner Road leaps right at you like a 3-D movie. The guitars and keyboards blend so well you can't pull them apart, and the drums are not so much the glue holding it all together as they are the foundation from which everything else feels at ease to bound freely. TWTT goes through so many time and tempo changes I feel dizzy. The sound is consistently large but you get this feeling right from the start that The Inner Road pays extremely close attention to every detail. I get a Liquid Tension Experiment/Atomic Rooster mind meld feel from this piece..so if you ever wondered what a Jordan Rudess/Keith Emerson merger would sound like...
OK, time for Liner Notes...The Inner Road was founded by Steve Gresswell, a name not unfamiliar in prog circles. Steve plays keyboards, produces, and is the main songwriter. As mentioned a paragraph or so ago, Steve has been around the prog scene for many years, previously in the band Coalition. Steve has also performed and collaborated with many prog artists, Bruno Pitch among them. Joining Steve is Jay Parmar on guitar and song writing duties. Another acclaimed and well seasoned musician in the prog world, Jay has performed with several musicians and artists, including Eden's Curse.
Mr. Gresswell brought The Inner Road to life after his stint with Coalition, needing an outlet for a more "symphonic style of instrumental prog." Bringing Jay into the fold worked out perfectly, as his guitar playing tends to lean toward the high-octane side of the prog garden while bringing intelligence and finesse along for the ride...think Robert Fripp's intellect coupled with Adrian Belew's innovation...
My final selection this week is a song called "Visions." Heavy-laden synthesizers hit you at the onset, and the song builds from there. I have this sense of tranquility--almost a soothing serenity--for the first two minutes. The tempo picks up a bit as the drums and guitar kick into higher gear. Visions is as upbeat and bright as Ascension is dark...but don't let that stop you from digging into either piece. The Inner Road has many side streets and I believe now would be a good time to start traversing them.
The clip posted below is called "Flight Through Eternity." As I have come to expect this week there is a huge dose of keyboards and guitars throughout as Steve and Jay attempt to outplay each other. That is not to imply any tension between the two--quite the contrary. These two two stellar musicians bring out the best in each other in a musical "sibling rivalry" of sorts. But enough commentary; just enjoy...
http://www.inner-road.com/
OK fellow progheads; time to sit back, listen, and reflect--something we have long been accused of enjoying a bit too much over the years I suspect. Progressive music has taken on many forms, definitions, and "alternative style adjustments"--a term I picked up in an online discussion recently. Although I am not sure it was ever defined to the satisfaction of those involved at the time, I believe I am starting to get it. Like so many things today, prog is evolving. As new fans discover progressive music, new expectations arise as to what it should be and how it should sound. Approached with an open mind this discussion/argument can lead to many as-of-yet-undiscovered innovations in prog...let the listener decide which to keep and which to pass. So I will take this discovery as an opportunity to expand my search for all things prog and continue my journey...back in two weeks...
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