Verdict (& Rating): Instrumental brain stimulation (80%)
More Info: www.parallelmind.com
Parallel Mind are an Amercan progressive rock band consisting of a drummer, keyboard player and bassist. They list bands like Yes, Rush and Planet X as their influences.
In fact, the band play complex instrumental pieces that are obvously heavily keyboard based. On the 7th July 2005 they played a CD release show featuring all the guest musicians on the album and included a full choir, cello, violin, guitar, Indian vocals, brass, etc. That lineup should give you some idea of what is on offer here.
With many progressive rock instrumental albums there is a tendency for many of the tracks to sound similar, despite the stops/starts, fast/slow & loud/soft sections within each track. However Parallel Mind manage to make each track have it's own character. This is all backed up by the virtuoso playing necessary for these complex compositions.
My usual track by track description doesn't really seem appropriate here. So I try to give you a better idea of the type of music Parallel Mind play. From my own record collection, the closest thing is probably Liquid Tension Experiment, but Parallel Mind have less of 'rock/metal' feel. Instead Parallel Mind combine jazz fusion with classical/symphonic, rock and New Age/World.
I have to say that isn't the sort of stuff I would normally listen too, but I received the album just before I had to do some studying for an exam and I found it an ideal accompanyment to a bit of brain work.
