Air Pavilion - The River/The Life

1. The River/The Life
2. The Flood
3. Great Flow
4. Holy River
5. The Canyon (River Of Dreams)
6. End Of The River
7. Stream In A Tube
8. The Road (To Rome)
9. Remembering (instrumental)
10. Overture - The River/Our Lives

Album Cover:

Total Playing Time: 50:43 m:s

Review date: 12/08/2000

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This is the second album, following the "Sarrph Cogh" debut from the band formed by Japanese guitarist and composer - Tak Yonemuchi. The lineup consists of Kelly Hansen (Unruly Child/Tangier/Hurricane) on vocals, Tak on guitars, Tom Croucier on bass, Jay Schellen (ex-Signal) on drums and Yuko Hirose on keyboards & vocals. Tom's bother, Juan (ex Ratt), produces the album. A fairly impressive lineup of AOR luminaries.

The album opener and title track caught me unawares on the first few listens. The six and a half minute track is just about the most gentile album opener I've heard in a long time. Yes were the first band that came to mind when I initially heard the tune. This slow lumbering tune definitely is a surprising choice as an opener. It might have more impact tucked away mid-album, but if you take the time to listen, it really is a good song. Appetite suitably wetted, "The Flood" starts. Oh my God! What have they done! An uptempo pomp/progressive romp that reminds me of progressive rockers Magellan. I assume to convey emotion, the vocals drag out certain words in the lyrics which I find annoying. There is an absence of melody and the song seems like a race between all the instruments.

"Great Flow" is better, with a more sensible pace and more melodic vocals. That annoying vocal style I mentioned earlier returns with a vengeance on "Holy River". The frantic activity and lack of melody returns in "The Canyon". More annoying vocals on "End Of The River". This is the heaviest tune on the album and at times the whole thing sounds a bit mindless.

Eloy are a reference point for some of the keyboard dabbling on "Stream In A Tube", which also has a female backing vocalist and a jazz improvisation in an attempt to breath some life into it. "The Road (To Rome)" is a simple piano ballad, that whilst it isn't that spectacular in absolute terms, fairs well against the competition provide by the rest of the songs on the album. If nothing else it highlights the fact that Kelly Hansen has a good voice if used correctly.

"Remembering" is the expected uptempo instrumental that proves the players are all very capable. "Overture" starts off with orchestral string-style keyboards, then piano before turning electric. The song continues where the opener left off.

As you've guessed by now, this one doesn't do that much for me. The album starts and finishes well, but in between there isn't much to hold my interest. Considering the wealth of talent involved, I can't help but feel that this should have turned out a hell of lot more interesting.