Member:
JLucky
Date:
6/26/2005
Put a CD in front of me with images of ancient Egypt and I’ll admit I’m more than interested. It’s one of the most fascinating and intriguing periods of human history. So when K²’s Book of the Dead arrived in the mail with some classic Egyptian images on the CD packaging I couldn’t wait to get in the player. I certainly wasn’t to be disappointed. Wow – what an impressive recording!
K² is first and foremost the work of Ken Jaquess, best known for his work with the band Atlantis. Jaquess’ musical history goes back to when he was 11 and taking guitar lessons, which by the time he was 13 changed to bass. But while he’s written, arranged and produced everything you hear on Book of the Dead this is far from a solo project. Jaquess has assembled a mighty mix of musicians to help fulfill his musical vision. Jaquess handles bass, keyboards (including mellotron) and 10-string acoustic guitar and then is assisted by Allan Holdsworth and John Miner on guitars, Ryo Okumoto on piano and Moog, Doug Sanborn on drums, Yvette Devereaux on violin and Shaun Guerin on vocals. It’s an impressive lineup whose collective skills are easily detected as you listen.
Book of the Dead is classic symphonic progressive rock. From the get-go you are drawn into music that is larger than life and so far beyond what is considered popular on radio these days. The music created here is timeless. Huge swells of notes descending into wonderful mellotron accents of both choral and strings. Soft acoustic guitars lead into melancholy violin providing yet another variation on the timeless symphonic prog genre. There are five tracks on this 46-minute CD. Five “chapters” as they’re called the first of which is a tick over 23 minutes, the others mostly in the six to seven minute range. Throughout the proceedings a nice clean sounding guitar adds a jazz inflected sound keeping the music one step ahead of the listener. You’re never quite sure what comes next. Songs move from huge crescendos to soft pastoral moods in the blink of an eye all strung together with hauntingly familiar keyboard textures. I love it! And to top it off Shaun Guerin’s tenor vocals blend into the proceedings in a most magical fashion.
For my money K²’s Book of the Dead is clearly one of the top releases of 2005 and certainly on my top 10 list. It’s impossible to find fault with it on any level. A concept piece about ancient Egypt set within a modern symphonic prog setting, what more can you ask for. It is everything a symphonic prog recording is meant to be.
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