Though the production of the album is not always up to par, ReFrame could grow tremendously. On top of all this musical bliss the band manages to craft melodies and choruses that contrast deeply with the heavy prog bodywork of the song. Contra rhythms and progressive intriguing patterns are evoking, and more than once throw you off completely on this debut album. `Reaching Revery’ is brought to an atmospheric end with the third part of the ,Fearless” trilogy, an only 2:30 long track with powerful gospel-like choirs and ethereal instrumentation.
Incredible turmoil and power is spit in ,Invisible Gardener” that keeps shifting shape and casts a wide array of melodic emotions, and ,Head In My Sand” just kicks up in high gear in more metallic manner, reminiscent to the heaviest Tiles tunes.
When the band shifts back gear, or goes full throttle, their marksmanship is astonishing. On Part 2 there’s a guest part of Living Colour’s Corey Glover that is perfectly adding to the atmosphere of the song. The tracks keep shifting shape but have recognisable melodic sections embedded, taking them forward with excellent drive. Tracks like the Styx reminiscent ,Stronger Than Death” and the progressive infective dual parts of the epic ,Fearless” are intricate and reveal true class and craftsmanship with Murphy feeling more at home hitting the Tommy Shaw highs and tenor. There’s a lot going on on `Reaching Revery’. Chopping up the longer tracks into shorter and more pointed progressive tracks, the band likely could benefit from a more recognisable course without losing their progressive overhaul. Musically however it is all very well constructed and with a running time of 77 minutes you tend to wonder about the possibilities of ReFrame. ReFrame repeats this successful formula on the exquisite ,April Showers”, with its wonderful orchestration. Proven effective is the choice to use Bobbie Parker on the delicate piano ballad ,All Yours” that evolves as an impressive duet with Jessica Pymm, who’s gifted with a little country tear in her voice. Murphy is blessed with a wide range but the vocal lines aren’t always matching his reach and more than once he sounds unsteady. What doesn’t help either is main vocalist Joe Murphy who is not only isolated in the mix, but his vocals aren’t up to par frequently. It also reveals another facet as the turmoil is frequently wading in an eclectic and messy production doing justice to the intensity of the tracks. The song unfolds with metal riffing and tremendous drive with piercing vocals. Versatile drumming with loads of hooks and tempo shuffles pulls it forward. More forward progressive they move in ,And The Light Shall Lie” with its upbeat refrains and pitching guitar work flowing under its melody. It is megalithic and crafted around intricate riffs and varying tempos executed with the utmost precision. ReFrame opens with the 9+ minutes stretched ,The Unbegun” that unites all of progs highlights of the last 4 decades. Tiles and Echolyn come to mind occasionally, as well as classic dinosaurs of prog Yes and Styx, and it depicts the typical stubbornness of their release.īehind the musical mastery of ReFrame is Phil Berger, known for his work in Phoenix Down, who crafts an impressive collection of songs on this merciless debut. Their debut `Reaching Revery’ draws from classic progressive and symphonic acts from the roaring 70s and 80s, from Rush to Yes, as well as modern prog in the vein of Neal Morse’s many acts and releases. ReFrame is a band in the heavy prog genre with a stubborn appeal over genre specific ingredients.
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