A great story - a great album
Neil Lee | 08/18/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Being an avid progressive rock fan, I was blown away to see that someone had combined my favourite type of music with one of the greatest survival stories ever.
On this album you'll find a wide selection of different musical tones and textures, topped off by Frank Bossert's (whose project this is) sublime guitar playing. For those of you who respect the guitar playing of Mike Oldfield (and who wouldn't), I'd highly suggest you get this CD as it would appear that there is a distinct Oldfield flavour to the guitar work.
The album tells the story of the 1914 proposed Antarctic crossing by Sir Ernest Shackleton and his crew of the Endurance. Overcoming the loss of their ship, marching across ice to a remote island and a 700 mile journey across the south Atlantic in an open boat to rescue, the album evokes the different moods of each chapter of the story perfectly. You'll find the album big on emotion and atmospherics, plus the fantastic vocals of guest singers on a number of tracks. For those who may not be familar with the story of the Endurance, the album features a narrator and has the storyline printed on the inside of the cover.
It should also be noted that a number of booklet photos feature actual expedition photos taken by Australian photographer, Frank Hurley, who was an key member of the crew.
So, in closing, if you like music which draws you in and are seeking inspiration, I highly recommend this album."
Outstanding Music!!
T. Johnson | Bloomfield Hills, MI United States | 08/18/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I bought this because of the review on Amazon and because I liked the musicians that are special guests on the album. The minute I put it in the player I was blown away. A narrator comes on to tell the listener of the inspiration for the music to follow. The narration is short and in less than a minute the synthesizers enter to get the music rolling. The first song is an instrumental featuring Troy Donockley on Uilleann Pipes, Billy Sherwood of Yes among many other bands and Yogi Lang of RPWL. The principle artist and song writer is Frank Bossert of Germany who plays Guitar, Bass, Mandolin and drums among other instruments. I love his guitar playing! It's very fluid and weaves in and out of the songs effortlessly! Very nicely done! The remainder of the CD is a mix between Instrumental and vocal tracks. The songs are so strong, at first listen I felt as though I heard this music before. However, this does not mean that subsequent playings become boring. Quite the opposite, they continue to reveal other layers not heard the previous time you listened to the songs. The CD is housed in a jewel case with original pictures of the Shackleton Exploration that the music is based on. The booklet is high quality and reveals enough of Shackleton's journey that you can make a movie in your mind of the long hard journey while listening to the songs. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!"
Merits Repeated Listening
Kurt Harding | Boerne TX | 08/26/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"It was always going to be difficult to create thematic music that could match the almost unimaginable heroics of Sir Ernest Shackleton and his hardy crew in its successful attempt to overcome what surely would have become a fatal disaster for most. Eureka's Shackleton's Voyage comes pretty close.
This CD is an atmospheric mix of mostly prog and rock interspersed with narratives and a few vocals. In order to get the most from it, it bears and merits repeated listening. I hear something new every time I put it on. There is really nothing to compare this with, you just have to hear it to appreciate it. It helps to know the Shackleton saga, but if you don't, the stunning archival pictures and story outline in the accompanying booklet will give you a good idea of just what an achievement the expedition's survival was.
That Ernest Shackleton is one of my heroes first attracted my interest in this CD, the quality of the music is what holds it. If this kind of music project intrigues you and you are musically adventurous, give it a listen."
Track Listings (15) - Disc #1