Blind Spectrum refers to themselves as a prog band in the same vein as Rush, Dream Theater, and Yes. In the prog garden, that is a fairly large cross section and quite a bit of acreage to till. So with not much else clogging the agenda for the next seven days, let us see what Blind Spectrum is bringing to harvest...
The opening course is a multi-layered piece called "A Perfect World." Jazz overtones entwined with top notes of Rush open this tune. The vocals come in from a seemingly far off place, circling the perimeter of your skull as the bass and drums lay a solid foundation. Blind Spectrum leaps out of the gate and proceeds to ramble full speed across the prog garden...and the week has just begun...
Going back for a second helping, I find "The Stranger You Became" on the serving platter. Coming from the "moody" side of the garden, I detect top notes of Gaillion and hints of Spock's Beard tossed into this mix. The guitar work seems to lay on top like cotton candy threads carried by a summer breeze. Blind Spectrum takes the mood down a notch on this cut; not dark so much as cautious and wary.
Liner Notes...coming to life in Wallkill NY, Blind Spectrum entered the prog garden in 2013. The quartet consists of Sean Butler on keyboards and lead vocals, Wyatt Mehmeti on guitar, Doug Faulkner on bass, and Eli Mehmeti on drums and vocals. Originally a trio, Sean was added as the desire to grow into a more "progressive" band grew, and they began to write/record more original material. Blind Spectrum is a relative new comer to the prog garden; searching for acreage in which to lay down more permanent roots...in the meantime, their sound continues to evolve.
My third serving from the buffet this week is a live cut from "the early years" of Blind Spectrum called "The Traveler Part I." There are two parts and each is a separate piece. Oddly enough they seem to have been written/performed/recorded at different times. Part I leans more toward a melange of early Yes with a touch of Marillion tossed in the blender to make it interesting. It plays out like a jam session; Blind Spectrum still finding their path. The guitars are cutting while the drums enter stage right and take over. Sean's keyboards make their entry in grand fashion, splashing brightness and intensity on a canvas up to now filled with primary colors.
The phrase "diamond in the rough" is extremely overused, much like the term "awesome." However; here it seems to fit...Blind Spectrum has the making of an exceptionally good prog band. Unafraid to venture into unfamiliar territory, dabble in the experimental, and come right at you with every weapon in their arsenal. Blind Spectrum wanders the length and breadth of the prog garden, taking from each section pieces that will make them a stronger whole. You can dig deeper and learn more about Blind Spectrum at BlindSpectrum ReverbNation. You can also follow the band on Facebook at BlindSpectrumFacebook and of course on Twitter @blind_spectrum.
The clip below is the second half of the Blind Spectrum early years; "The Traveler Part II." This one is bit cleaner and crisper; I told you they were evolving. The keyboards open quickly with heavy drumming moving in to fill your head space. Guitars find their way and begin to seep into your consciousness. Blind Spectrum is a band making the right moves, and fortunately for them, there are numerous paths in the prog garden to follow, each with its own unique offerings. They may not be the next Rush, Yes, or Dream Theater...yet. But given time, Blind Spectrum may very well be the band that inspires yet another up an comer...
So this week fellow progheads, the search for all things prog unearthed a find not as rare as one would think--a band still finding its way; learning the old fashion way. Blind Spectrum is carving out acreage in the prog garden with precision, skill, and some good ol' grit and determination. We, as fellow progheads, need to support this "next generation" of progressive rock artists, lest we end up sitting in an old La-Z-Boy recliner, cueing up the same album time after time...
Blind Spectrum is but a glimpse of what I set out to do with this blog; find bands that need--and deserve--our attention. Bent Knee, Atlas Volt, Aaron Clift Experiment, Fire Garden, Scarlet INside, Timelight, Fire on Dawson...the list could go on for pages. These are bands that I truly believe have expanded the boundaries of the prog garden and made this genre all the better for it. Blind Spectrum has that potential...
Now, as is my custom, I remind you that the search for all things prog must continue, and the Concert Closet will carry on this never-ending journey...until next week...
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