Nova Cascade – “The Navigator” | Progressive Rock Central.com

Nova Cascade returns September, 29, 2023, with a new album, The Navigator. Unlike the last album, Back from the Brink, (2021), the band’s press release states, “this is an album to listen to quietly with contemplation. The album affirms the importance of love and the companionship of friends, that we should treasure those whilst we can”. The album, “is, at its heart, a sincere, heartfelt tribute and celebration of the life and impact of violinist, guitarist, and all round excellent musician, colleague, friend and inspirational muse Eric Bouillette; who sadly died of cancer last year after a long protracted battle. This album is based on the collective’s feelings and memories of Eric, he is featured throughout the album, as his magnificent violin work is on many of the album tracks. The album sales will raise funds in his honor and for Pancreatic Cancer UK”.

Nova Cascade is made up of Dave Hilborne on vocals, keyboards, and programming; Dave Fick on bass guitars; Colin Powell on electric guitars, additional keys, orchestrations, (tracks 1 – 12); Charlie Bramald on flute, (tracks 2,4,5, and 6); Eric Bouillette on violin, acoustic and electric guitars, (tracks 1, 4, 6, 9, and 13); Lorenzo Poliandri on drums, (tracks 5,7, and 9); and Nino Chieviladze on violin, (tracks 3 and 11).

The Navigator kicks off with some heavenly choirs and grand orchestration; on the track, “Sleeping Dogs”. Then, Dave Hilborne, sounding so much like Nick Barrett, from Pendragon, in the Not of this World or Believe era. Dave sings so sincerely, “Can’t cauterize the wound. Far beyond repair. Let sleeping dogs lie. Don’t occupy my heart. Tread softly on my dreams. In tatters and in rags”. All this amidst some wonderful violin from Eric Bouillette, the subject of the album, with strings supporting. What an amazing, emotional and moving experience. Like a light shining from Heaven itself. As if Eric were looking upon all of us, smiling, gracefully. Probably the best album opening I have heard all year.

“Safe Haven”, is absolutely what you were hoping it would be. A beautiful soft instrumental song, full of that mood I remember from Pendragon’s long gone emotional era. Just amazing in every way. The guitar music and keyboards will melt your heart and awaken your inner conscience. Just under six minutes of solitude and longing. Longing for a time gone by, when we had more time to appreciate all that is around us and live more fully in our existence. Charlie Bramald’s flute playing is unforgettable, as it is throughout the album.

“A Walk Along the Canal”, opens with Nino Chieviladze’s beautiful violin playing, which again, pulls thoroughly, at your heartstrings. She is supported with bass, keyboards, solid orchestration and programming that will lift your spirits and channel your inner feelings and thoughts. Enjoy this over 3 minutes of peaceful music, full of spirit and effervesce. The guitar soling towards the end is very moving, as is the deep bass play.

“The Navigator”, is the major track on the album, at over 10 minutes in length. The beautiful choirs and deep bass that open this song will help you concentrate on what is to come. The flute playing from Charlie Bramald will lift your spirits and thinking, while the piano playing will help clarify your thoughts. Just then, they add powerful electric guitar and drum sounds. Thunder and excellent, eerie keyboards pick up the soundscape and carry it even higher. What a soundtrack for a movie, that hasn’t been made…yet. The grinding guitars that drift in and out like flying ghosts are absolutely amazing. The deep bass that follows helps to ground us, and keep us focused. The most powerful track on the album and the reason it was selected as the title. That very cool, almost, You Only Live Twice – like theme, riff on the guitars is spellbinding for someone who loves that song. They bring it back over and over, and I just do not want it to end. Then, they play it with acoustic guitars, and I am thinking, “how can this get any better?” Well, they could add flute…and so they do. Wow!

“The Night Crossing”, opens with soft orchestration and solid electric guitars amidst cinematic programming. The guitar riffs and soling is remarkable. Another wonderful contemplative, with flute and piano, instrumental.

“The Fever Dream”, has a very cool opening riff, that sets it apart from the other songs on the album. Dave Hilborne’s drumming makes this one a keeper. The keyboards and guitar playing will keep this track front and center on your playlist.

On “Any Minute Now”, Olivia Steele performs spoken word narration of the song lyrics before, Dave Hilborne has the chance to sing them, “Any minute now, I said. Just another moment to wait. Where did all the years pass, she said. We’re taken before our time. The ties that bind. Unwind. Move on. Move on”. Hilborne’s delivery is much more dramatic and emotional. A very sentimental song which will hopefully touch your heart as it did theirs.

Laura Piazzai, who worked with Eric Bouillette, on Clive Nolan’s latest Imaginaerium album, and other works, used to call Eric the “Lion”. Eric called Laura the “Tiger”. And so of course there was a necessity to include a track titled, “The Noble Lion”. There is a letter from Laura included in the album booklet that you can read, once you purchase the album. It will tell the entire story of their beautiful friendship. But this song does a wonderful job of sharing the emotion of the friendship. Outstanding piano, then keys mark the noble sound of this over 3 minute instrumental, with added guitar and bass.

The keyboards that open “Submerged” do make it sound like you are leagues under the sea. It is a wonderful journey complete with sonic electric guitar, bass, drums, and some of the album’s most amazing keyboards. You will feel like you are diving 20,000 leagues under the sea. Anyone here remember that movie or book?

“Weightless”, opens with soft, weightlessly perfect electric guitar chords and soft drums, in front of a programmed soundscape. Then, Dave Hilborne sings, with enough emotion to fills your eyes with tears, “Frozen in place. The seconds felt like hours. Two souls entwined. Like bees swarm to flowers. With faith and grace and poise. You accept your mortality. We’re all weightless with human love. Yes, we’re all weightless, with human love”. I used to think Marco Glühmann, from Sylvan, was the only “King of Pain’. However, now with Dave Hilborne, there are two kings.

Nino Chieviladze returns to play striking violin, amidst what sounds like driving rain in the background of the soundscape, on “Return to Haven”. Programmed thunder is heard as a powerful lead electric guitar solo just magnifies the sound. Soft acoustic guitar, with bass, and violin together make a unique and fitting combination. The choirs really take this higher, as Tony Banks-like keyboards are added to really take this song over the top. Another of the best instrumentals on the album. Every instrument seems to get its fair share of lovingly unique and solid moments.

“Somewhere Between Here and Now”, almost sounds like a title, another of my favorite Neo prog bands, Satellite, might have used. Wish they were still around. This is not as soul-searching as some of Satellite’s best, but it is an awfully wonderful piece of music. Olivia Steele’s spoken word narration, from “Any Minute Now”, is repeated here. Over 2 minutes of contemplative music.

Get this album and experience something that we all take for granted these days. That, as Carly Simon once sung, “These are the good ole days”. She went on to sing, “And tomorrow we might not be together. I’m no prophet and I don’t know nature’s ways. So I’ll try and see into your eyes right now. And stay right here ’cause these are the good old days”. Yes, that is what I saw in Eric Bouillette, during that interview. Enjoy this fleeting moment…before it passes. And live it full of gusto!