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NOT THE FUTURE I ORDERED
Blue Shift are from California and released this debut album in 1997. The band comprise Stewart Meredith on lead vocals; Mark Barton, keyboards; Joey Backenstoe, guitars; and Steve Sklar on percussion.
No mention is made of a bass player, although sometimes there is obviously a synth bass present and other times there is a wonderful Rickenbacker Chris Squire/Dave Meros bass sound. The band's website is not very informative and only consists of sound clips that sadly do not work - I therefore have no idea whether the band are still together or if another album may be on the way. However, even if this CD is a one off it is still worth a listen.
Blue Shift's sound is greatly influenced by Yes with a very busy approach comprising high register vocals, Howe-like manic guitar playing and whizzing keyboard runs. That said, they do have their own sound and style
and are certainly not mere copyists like Starcastle for example. There is also a jazzy feel to much of the music here that leads to me to comparisons with Echolyn and U.K.
The opening nine minute track 'Wide Awake and Dreaming' opens with gentle acoustic guitar and synth before launching into a magical piece of prog with lots of stops & starts, racing
guitars & keys and very strong vocal melodies; a complete stunner of a song. Next is the title track where the keyboards sound a bit like Eddie Jobson - again sheer bedlam in the instrumental department with wailing guitars and the vocals seem to soar in another plane - how do they play so fast? Another eight minute epic song 'Rome' is next which has beautiful vocal melodies and another busy instrumental section at the end.
'Walking On Air' is next, it's the most commercial song on the album, but it's still a good tune.
'Safe Sex' and 'Moving Out' follow; two more shorter poppy songs but utterly brilliant all the same with excellent guitar playing and vocals. The penultimate track is a cover of Led Zep's 'Immigrant Song' which, I'm afraid, is nothing special - it seems out of place with the rest of the music here and I consider it to be a filler track. The final song 'Flintridge' is perhaps the best on the album and clocks in at just under seven minutes. The lyrics speak of chasing UFO's in the Arizona desert and with more soaring vocals and adept playing from the rest of the band it's a really uplifting piece of 'cosmic' prog rock with many changes in melody and tempo.
Highly recommended for fans of the aforementioned bands - I hope to hear more of Blue Shift in the future. Go on, treat yourself; it's available from GFT or via the bands website.
Steve Smith 23/1/00
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