Tristan Park - A Place Inside

Year of Release: 1995
Label: Cyclops
Catalog Number: CYCL 022
Format: CD
Total Time: 58:20:00

Tristan Park aren't unique in what they do - their brand of prog hews closely to the likes of IQ, Pendragon, Marillion, et al. They actually make me think more of Egdon Heath, with Chuck Dyac's vocals deep and rich at times, and unlike either Hogarth or Barrett's (or Fish's for that matter). Which isn't to suggest that Dyac has the best vocals in the genre, because there are times that they fall short.

What sets Tristan Park apart from their brethren is the inclusion of a brass section, giving them a jazzy feel; it is the trumpet on "In Your Possession" that sets this apart from typical neo-prog fair. Perhaps because of the trumpets, saxophones, flugelhorns, etc., there is an extra spark here in the music; that and the varied sonic textures here. Of course, there are keyboard swirls right out of mid-period Marillion, guitar playing like Rothery (and so like Hackett, too), symbols effects like Mosley - and yet, very much unlike Marillion.

The instrumental "A Well Lit Place" is beautiful and haunting, a gentle keyboard and trumpet piece and one of my favourites from the album. This leads into "Risking It All" which made me think of "Uncertain Weather" from Genesis' recent Calling All Stations

Comparisons aside, this is a really good album, though if you are steadfast to the classic-Yes/ELP-like progressive, you won't like Tristan Park. But for me, progessive or not, I like Tristan Park.

Tracklisting:
A Day Away (5:16) / In Your Possession (5:16) / A Place Inside (4:34) / Hollow Inside (4:14) / The Search (5:33) / A Well Lit Place (1:47) / Risking It All (5:09) / One Word Away (5:32) / Mourning of Spring (5:17)/ The End Of Forever (4:38) / Family Portrait (5:17) / The Closest I've Come (4:30) / Porn Jazz (1:17)

Musicians:
Tom Bean - guitars, backing vocals
Rick Black - keyboards, backing vocals, bass
Ray Bowles - lead and backing vocals, percussion
Brian Coombes - bass, lead and backing vocals, bass pedals, piano
Chuck Dyac - lead and backing vocals
Jim Turmel - drums and percussion
Reg Dickinson - guitars
Keith Larochelle - trumpet, flugelhorn
Marc Larochelle - saxophones, keyboards

Discography:
At The End Of The Day (1993)
A Place Inside (1995)
Leave To Enter (1997)
Looking Homeward (1998)

Genre: Neo Prog

Origin US

Added: July 25th 1999
Reviewer: Stephanie Sollow
Score:
Hits: 3445
Language: english