https://www.progarchives.com/review.asp?id=3212963
**** Ben Craven distils symphonic prog rock, citing Focus, Caravan, Nektar, Can, Yes, Genesis, and Pink Floyd as references. Epic prog, a cinematic concept album.
“Future History Part 1” as an intro takes off cinematically, a gentle start, a stratospheric guitar solo on an ethereal kit. “For All Mankind” begins weightlessly, Ben’s vibrant guitar and velvety synths inviting us to dream of dreamlike landscapes. Melodic synth prog with hints of UPF or even The SAMURAI of PROG. A symphonic, ethereal atmosphere, reminiscent of PINK FLOYD from both periods, if they had continued. The dynamic 7/8 sound, metaphorical lyrics about the current world, to hope for a better one. The catchy chorus is a further space rock anthem. “Provenance” bursts forth with Ben fiddling with his guitar for the spacey instrumental with a bluesy undertone; The metronomic air, as if coming from an autopilot, brings the track to the musical exosphere from which each silent note emanates only beauty, like Bennetts’ crystalline piano guided by the drums. “Earthrise” continues, a rhythm typical of 80s-90s FLOYD; soft vocals, a haughty air with the acoustic guitar clinging for a moment to the reverberating air. The track takes off as a slide solo, notes spurting from all sides, overpowering the prog-like artist in need of something new. An acoustic outro closes this anthology of musical flight.
“Terraforming” is the final project, with Ben manhandling his instrument, looking towards the great GILMOUR. The piano and then the acoustic slide in for a duet with warm choruses, Povey’s kit controlling before letting the GENESIS-style organ swell and explode into a constellation of neutron-note stars. A break on “Meddle,” rising, furious, groovy, electric, and apocalyptic, with the return of Ben. The jam is tamed, the song settles midway, setting off on a winding path, an Olympian celestial path, a wormhole to reach the zenith, the musical firmament. The solemn outro completes the emotion. “Future History Part 2” stands out with the contribution of the sax, injecting a danceable air, the whispered funky vocals reinforcing the atmosphere in this sense. The second instrumental part is a controlled and contained jam.
As a bonus, 4 of the 6 tracks are available in single edit form to get to the heart of the matter, but no, you have to immerse yourself in the longer tracks. Originally released on Progcensor.