Conspiracy - The Unknown

Year of Release: 2003
Label: InsideOut
Catalog Number: IOMCD 128
Format: CD
Total Time: 53:36:00

I've never before now been so uncertain about giving a vote to a record as I am with this one that I have in my hands. Even though I listened to it many times, the situation didn't become simpler. But I'll explain why afterwards.

This is the second release from Conspiracy, a project created by Chris Squire -- Mr Bass Guitar in the prog world -- and guitarist Billy Sherwood, both Yes-men, although Sherwood stayed for a couple of discs.

Problems were borne by the fact that The Unknown is a well performed album with catchy melodies, interesting guitar arpeggios, and the great wizardry shown by Squire in playing his Rickenbacker. But this last consideration there isn't anything new. A lot of bassists have been influenced by his way of playing, like Dave Meros from Spock's Beard or Pete Trewavas of Marillion, just to mention a few.

Some could say ?It's a great release!? It isn't so. The Unknown needs a main characteristic: being original. In fact, it sounds perfectly like Open Your Eyes released in 1997 by Yes. This aspect gives importance to the influence of Squire and Sherwood in recording that album, but if Open Your Eyes is be called an original disc, we can't declare the same for this one. So if you didn't listen to Open Your Eyes before, all of you prog fans will like this CD, but only in this case.

Tracklisting:
Conspiracy (5:05) / Confess (4:37) / New World (7:22) / ? A World Away (5:48) / There Is No End (5:15) / The Wheel (5:27) / Premonitions (4:10) / The Unknown (11:21) / Bonus Track: I Could (4:22)

Musicians:
Chris Squire - bass, vocals
Billy Sherwood - vocals, guitar
Jay Schellen ? drums

Discography:
Conspiracy (2000)
The Unknown (2003)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin VA

Added: July 7th 2003
Reviewer: Davide Guidone
Score:
Artist website: www.conspiracymusic.net
Hits: 2198
Language: english