Massive, sweeping, masterful classical rock exploration

Working at Soundoo.com brings one moments of unmitigated bliss, receiving this album was one of them.

"Drifting Strangers" is the first CD from an eponymous new band formed in 2003 by experienced musicians.

The music explores and blends together several music styles quite masterly. Atmospheric electronic ambient tracks à la Klaus Schulze, notably the intro Shimmering eclipse provide nice pausing moments between more powerful compositions. Those explore first psychedelic territory, where Mr Culbertson's displays magnificent talent in guitar solos played very much in the manner of David Gilmour with the mature Pink Floyd. Perpetual mirage is a masterpiece that would have looked pretty much at home on Atom Heart Mother or Dark Side of the Moon.

The music next moves to rock blues. The dominant instrument is no longer the Fender guitar, but the electric piano, played in a crisp and energetic manner, with sweeping arpeggios and tremolos, that reminded me very much of another favourite band of mine, Liquid Tension Experiment. Pay attention to the extroardinary Dawn at midnight and its reprise in the final untitled track.

The final theme is more classical rock. Almost make a living is a wonderful composition featuring inventive bass and rhythmic guitar work, with sweeping riffs and arpeggios that will remind one of the rock period of Terje Rypdal, another polymath composer who ventured into classic rock in the early 80s.

Finally Soliloquy is a short, charming composition for the acoustic guitar, oscillating between classical Spanish and progressive rock.

Altogether the CD is more a tribute to an array of past good things than it is truly original. It is nevertheless immensely pleasant. An absolute must for nostalgics of 70s rock music.

- Soundoo

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