Spock's Beard
Spock's Beard

Let's clear one thing right away. Progressive is an absolutely accursed genre! That being said, I like Spock's Beard's latest work. And we've already got two facts straight in just a few lines. Let's try for a moment to forget the glorious past of this band and focus our attention on an inherent need these artists have to dust off their clothes and dress up for a new gala evening. We'll find ourselves facing an honest, direct, and impulsive record.

Spock's Beard doesn’t beat around the bush; I believe that more than from Neal Morse's departure, the four felt the need to give their sound a twist, offering an immediate style right from the openings "On a perfect day" and the instrumental "Skeletons at the feast". It’s not a poorly executed facelift, but just a different way of seeing things from a group that over the years has always produced solid works. And especially considering the genre they’re involved in, renewing and always changing skin is the key to staying afloat. Sure, like any change, this self-titled album also has some misses (in my opinion "All that's left" and "Hereafter" are not quite in tune with the rest of the songs). But only those who try can fail, so it’s very likely that after a few listens, even the two aforementioned will become more enjoyable to listen to. And let's not forget the suite that precedes the album's closing, "As far as the mind can see". Here the SB have fun diving back into the vast territory of their musical influences and creating a suite articulated in structure, with songs disconnected from each other except for the reprise in "Stream of consciousness", but really simple in form.

I may be repetitive, it may be my inspiration at the moment, but Spock's Beard manages to remain themselves just as their trademark halfway between rock and fusion remains unchanged, and whatever else, but the immediacy of the songs is truly disarming. It’s not comparable to any other of their work for a simple chronological reason; this record is a different one compared to the previous ones. And if for a moment you can forget Neal Morse and the works associated with him, you’ll find this album truly a nice surprise!