Rain - Cerulean Blue


Year of Release: 2004
Label: Telos Music
Catalog Number: TELOSCD072
Format: CD
Total Time: 54:22:00

This is progressive music in more ways than one. It's neither quick nor flashy and tells a story in epic fashion. It utilizes numerous instruments as well as various forms of production. Most importantly, this projectile has been marketed towards a modern mission. How you might ask? It's provided to the public in a fashion that's 100% free. Keep reading and I'll get around to this unrestricted offer.

To get an idea of the music, it's a combination of Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Ray Wilson, Pink Floyd, and Simon Apple. While not as spirited or spry, it's probably most similar to Planet P Project. In this chess game, they've done away with the clock. Instead, it's given all the time it needs to develop. It's intelligent in a slow, yet unrelenting manner. While it's not geared at speeds I typically intend to travel, it's definitely earned the gold sticker. Even though it's not the kind of diversion I frequently find myself hearing, it strikes a lot of the same nerves as my usual selections.

The guests, by the way, have already earned themselves some amount of notoriety on the BBC. The narrator, Rob Brown, has appeared on BBC's adaptation of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. His voice is not too much unlike that of Vincent Price on Michael Jackson's Zombie-infested Thriller. The saxophonist, Iain Ballamy, won BBC's Award for Innovation in Jazz. His makes his mark known with every appearance on this album. By no means are these two small-timers and the remainder of the cast does a polished and professional job as well.

For those who like good, well-thought, and well-produced prog, go outside your comfort zone and let Rain tap upon your forehead.

Let's take a moment to breakdown this blissful album called Cerulean Blue:

"Lammas Land" - The opener is slow to develop as it begins with the landing of a plane and it's followed by a monologue. While it starts at a safe altitude, it eventually gains ground. Once you've arrived at your destination, you check into your room and fall into your bed. There will be little interruption in these passages as you rest your weary feet. Eventually, the traffic outside picks up and there is commotion in the halls. The bellhop knocks upon your door and urges you to wake. His singing is a shoe-in for Ray Wilson as he goes from the softest tendencies to ones that aren't quite so subdued. He's intent on getting you up whether it's the hard way or without incident. We are introduced to a character named Rick who signs the cards being read to us. We are left in the dark about the reader's involvement. It's a curious beginning to what goes on to be a creative concept.

"Parsifal" - The second track is a little more orchestral in nature. Along with several wind instruments such as clarinet, bassoon, and sax, an incredibly divine choir joins in. As we find in the first, each track begins with a narration and this doesn't attempt to break the mold.

"Starcrossed" - The labor union makes positions for drums and acoustic guitars. These new hires immediately get to work after orientation from our instructor. The heritage of these workers is somewhere in the family of U2's Joshua's Tree. Also, looking at their lineage, they've appeared to have grown up in the vicinity of the rustic riffs of Rusted Root. It sounds a lot like "Send Me On My Way."

"The Silver Apples Of The Moon" - The storytelling continues and it's a little crazed and confusing. Nonetheless, it is mesmerizing and intriguing. As the teller of tales speaks, a violin sways. You will find this has similar chords and progressions as Transatlantic's "We All Need Some Light." It exhibits some of Peter Gabriel's English nobility as well. The aristocrats of Pink Floyd also make a majestic appearance.

"Light And Magic" - This song is whitewashed in sci-fi weird. Everything seems genuine and kosher until we find out what's been used to make Soylent Green. The chronometer moves backwards in this odd adaptation of A Clockwork Orange. The holograms rendered by the sax point us towards the surface of this Red Planet. We're lost in a purple haze as we try to escape this freaky underground maze. While we've come from an insane and sterile space, this promptly takes us to a maddening place.

"Jerusalem" - The holy land is up for grabs as this city lies in shambles. There are sirens and screams, but they're silenced liked ghosts from the past. Eventually, the song begins to puts the pieces back together again. As the healing starts, the rebuilding begins. The structures erected in the end are more resilient than the buildings that stood prior to their peril. All the themes culminate into this terrific track and it features some of my favorite passages. This is the best song on the album as it all comes together plus it adds in some new symphonic pleasures. The report continues to refer to someone called Rick who seems to be the character who is writing to our reader.

"Cerelean Blue" - There is nothing new in this piece besides the wind outside. It swirls around and kicks up autumn leaves. The story comes to an end and we find out who has been speaking to us between the breaks in the music. The singing is similar to John Lennon's slowest and most sensitive ballads. It's an appropriate end to an album that has heaved with confusing questions and swelled with symphonic bliss.

Once you've untangled the knot and come to understand the story, stability will breach your mental state. Once you reach these levels of enlightenment, Cerulean Blue will be as transparent as the cleanest waters surrounding the most translucent harbors.

The music is pretty good, but I won't waste much more of your time drooling over it. If you've encountered this article, more likely than not, you have an Internet connection.

For samples and even a "free" download of the entire album with cover artwork, all you need to do is go here: www.telosmusic.net/cerulean blue main/ceruleanblue.htm.

Rain says, "As you can imagine, the budget for advertising and promoting this CD is absolutely Zero, so I rely entirely on kind souls such as yourself posting reviews and comments on websites and forums, etc. Any help you can give in spreading the word is very much appreciated!"

We must all play our part in keeping good music alive. So, if you like the music, please purchase the album. It will certainly be appreciated. While you can get this album free-of-charge, there is still incentive to purchase the real deal. If you do decide to buy, you'll get the following:

  • Professionally pressed and printed CD with a high-quality vinyl-style gatefold cover
  • Superior sound quality of 16-bit/44.1 KHZ direct from original masters
  • "ASHES" - Exclusive 5 minute high-quality DVD-format film with original score - video and soundtrack unavailable elsewhere.
  • 40-page discussion of Cerulean Blue with Rain and Strawdog
  • Lyrics & "ASHES" script
  • World-wide postage included in price & payment is secure through PAYPAL

If this sounds intriguing, but you're looking for something more upbeat, let me suggest Planet P Project. If, however, this is your cup of tea then what are you waiting for? Go ahead and have a sip of the refreshingly clean and crisp waters of cerulean blue.


Tracklisting:
The Lammas Lands (8:58) / Parsifal (6:08) / Starcrossed (4:52) / The Silver Apples Of The Moon (7:38) / Light And Magic (10:53) / Jerusalem (9:13) / Cerulean Blue ( 6:36)

Musicians:
Rain - guitars, bass, keyboards, drums, Jerusalem pipes, vocals, eye
Rob Brown - narrator
Iain Bellamy - saxophones
Philip Morgan, violin
Rebecca Percy - viola
Hannah Payne - cello
Kevin Moorey - drums, Jerusalem snare drum

Discography:
Cerulean Blue (2004)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin UK

Added: October 15th 2005
Reviewer: Joshua "Prawg Dawg" Turner

Artist website: www.telosmusic.net/
Hits: 3592
Language: english

  

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