1. You've Got a Time - 4:092. Words and Miracles - 7:17
3. Solid Ground - 6:01
4. Half the Way - 6:07
5. I. This Reality - 13:32
6. II. The Crush of Night - 13:18
7. Almost Over - 4:19
A good friend recommended this album to me. I was further drawn in by the presence of Gentle Giant guitarist Gary Green, who is always worth a listen. But what I found was unexpected beauty. The multi-layered, intertwining vocals; the expressive and melodic bass guitar work; the beautiful piano parts; the snaky, sinewy guitar; and the overall high quality of these compositions coalesce perfectly to make a memorable, subtle, masterful album.
Apparently this is part two of a three-album concept suite. You don't need to know that to enjoy the music here, though. The songs are very carefully thought out, with introspective, philosophical lyrics that also have emotional urgency. The restrained elegance of the opening a capella vocals to "You've Got a Time" or the piano-led childhood memories of "Half the Way" provide nice contrast to the more bracing rock desperation of "Solid Ground" ("I can't feel the earth, it's shaking underneath me/It's taking everything I have to stand") or the playful time-twisting 11/8 jaunt that is the first half of "Words and Miracles".
The centerpiece of the album is the 26-minute work formed by tracks 5 and 6. The band weave several styles and movements together successfully to create an adventurous journey about a search for truth. "This Reality" chronicles the attempt to cobble together your own comfortable philosophy by taking the bits and pieces you like and ignoring everything else, and about how the world shatters such attempts. "The Crush of Night" is less obvious lyrically, almost mystical in places, as it tries to capture the truth that comes after the self-serving deception is shattered. Musically, the piece ranges far and wide: graceful, unadorned piano dances over nimble bass and drums, with guitar etching melodies and countermelodies throughout, complemented in turns by xylophone one minute, electronic loop percussion the next. The singing by husband-wife-brother team Tom Galgano, Anmarie Byrnes, and John Galgano is intricate and emotional, and it meshes perfectly with the instruments to form a complex and exciting piece of music.
This group of dedicated musicians will probably continue to be criminally overlooked, but they have something significant and unique to say, and now that I know of them, I'm listening.
Arbitrary rating: 5 out of 5 graceful, unadorned pianos
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