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I AM (EP)
Tracklist:
Never Let Go(4.12); Sane Life (6.58); Symbol (6.15); Sober (8.04)
LINEUP
Damian Wilson - Vocals
Adam Wakeman - Keyboards
Pete Rinaldi - Guitar
Lee Pomeroy - Bass
Rich Brook - Drums
REVIEW
Headspace are a UK based prog-rock band who it would have been easy to overlook were it not for some of the names appearing in the line-up.
With Damian Wilson (Threshold, Landmark) on vocals, Adam Wakeman (one of Rick's sons) on keyboards, and Lee Pomeroy, who has for a long time worked with Rick Wakeman, on bass, you already have three good reasons for sitting up and taking notice. Add to the mix the talents of Pete Rinaldi on guitars and Rich Brook on drums and you have a recipe for something really rather special.
The band while relatively unknown, put in three live shows in the Summer of 2007 when they played support to Ozzy Osbourne at dates in London, Dublin and Birmingham. Here they reached a significant audience and
were very well received. The band's only available recording to date is the 4 track EP, 'I Am', which was also recorded last year and released through Blueprint.
The EP consists of the standard four tracks and from the very begining it is clear that here is a band with a huge amount of potential!
The opening track 'Never Let Go' is probably the strongest of the pieces featured and is quite simply superb! With the heavy bass line and grungey guitar sound it really rocks hard.
The vocals are in Damian's usual inimitable style, brilliantly delivered, and with a chorus that is easy to pick up on and which is guaranteed to have you singing along!
'Sane Life' starts off with a smooth and subtle sound, with soft vocals set against a restrained keyboard backdrop with acoustic guitar soon joining in.
As the track develops and the bass line and drums kick in, there is a passing similarity to thik in terms of Yes, but with the a slightly heavier edge giving extra bite!
The same mood carries across into 'Symbol' which again starts off in fairly quiet fashion with piano backing the vocals and a light touch to the bass.
Quite quickly though the tracks takes on a harder edge and the overall tone becomes much harder and darker. My only criticsm of this track is that I would have liked to have seen a little more development, or perhaps a little less run time, but despite this minor niggle it is still a fine piece.
Finally we come to 'Sober' which brilliantly combines different musical textures. Heavy guitar work is interspersed with acoustic passages and once again Damians vocal work is a pleasure to listen to as it
alternates between the hard hitting and softer sections. As the song develops the pace starts to pick up and the keyboards start to develop a little more than we have heard previously to good effect.
With such a solid debut release under their belt my only concern is whether or not there is more to come!
Since the EP was recorded Damian Wilson would appear to have returned to Threshold and the Headspace project would seem, for the time being at least, to be on hold - certainly the web site has not seen any update in quite some time.
That said the EP is still available and with 25 minutes of quality music on offer for a fiver this is an item that should be given serious consdieration if you have not already got your hands on it!
Simon - 4th May 2008
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