The Arc Light Sessions – Chromatic Overture
Before CDBaby.com shut down its webstore for music, I found another great band I had never heard of before. That band is The Arc Light Sessions. Their new album Chromatic Overture, is a wonderful, deep dive into the classic progressive rock I grew up with, namely, Genesis and Emerson, Lake and Palmer.
Chromatic Overture is the third release for the band, after: Penchance to Dream, released in 2015, and Remastered, released in 2017.
The band is made up of John Alarcon, on piano, synthesizers, organ, mellotron and lead vocals; Hugo Emard, on bass; Steve Valmont, on drums; Luc Tremblay, on flute and oboe; and Patrick Simpson, on guitars. The Arc Light Sessions was the creation of keyboardist and composer John Alarcon. He has created symphonic progressive rock that contains elements of some of my favorite bands from the ‘70s.
John Alarcon was born in Madrid Spain, he emigrated to Canada with his family at the age of 8. His musical history started at the age of 11 when he began taking piano lessons from his father and went through a classical repertoire while also diving into rock, pop and prog. His main progressive rock influences are Genesis, ELP, PFM, King Crimson, Gentle Giant, Yes, Anthony Phillips and Steve Hackett.
Every track on this album will take you back to places you have probably travelled before like Nursery Crime, Foxtrot, Selling England by the Pound, and ELP’s debut.
“Reality” and “Red Flower of Summer”, could have found a place on any of the early Genesis albums I mentioned above. You can hear the affinity with Anthony Phillips and Tony Banks throughout.
On “All in Time”, John Alarcon sounds like Greg Lake, only with a higher pitched voice. He keeps the same cadence and maintains the dramatic affect Greg always used to trap with each word and note. The lyrics sound like something Greg might have written. The keyboards and guitar are early Genesis. Can’t remember anyone bringing the sound of those famous bands together so well before.
“Spellbound” is an instrumental track filled with Steve Hackett guitar flights that will bring back memories of the band’s first three albums. The keys sound like ELP. Wonderful to hear the two band’s styles mixed so well.
“A Place for You”, is filled with piano and supporting guitar, with bass and drums, that drifts into a “Ripples” echo on piano.
“Move Aside”, is another great mix between the styles filled with great lyrics. ELP like lyrics and vocals set to Hackett like guitars and Banks keys.
“Wasn’t Born Yesterday” is full of great piano, and mellotron.
“These Winter Blues”, come complete with winter wind and plenty of Genesis rhythms from the Collins era.
“It All Begins…”, is full of synthesizers with dancing rhythms. The Hackett – like lead guitar is excellent. A mostly instrumental track full of memories from the past. Some of this track reminds me of Steve Hackett’s solo work.
…. “In this Life”, opens with running piano, before the synthesizers kick in. A powerful lyrical closer.
This is a great album, that for me, blended two of my favorite bands from the classic era of progressive rock. I heard moments of guitar supremacy I remember from my youth. The keys took me back to the wonderful characteristics now lost with the passing of Keith Emerson. Banks keyboards are evident all over the tracks as well.
Please get this album and enjoy the sound of the music of classical progressive rock from the ‘70s, given a new melody and new lyrics.
Track List:
1. Reality (6:51)
2. Red Flower of Summer (4:53)
3. All in Time (5:25)
4. Spellbound (3:15)
5. A Place for You (6:04)
6. Move Aside (4:09)
7. Wasn’t Born Yesterday (5:07)
8. These Winter Blues (4:59)
9. It All Begins………
10. ……..In This Life (13:17)
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIUMl0AqqIcUYF-o9awg0dQ
http://www.arclightsessions.com/
https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/the-arc-light-sessions/chromatic-overture.p/