Search - Steve Howe & Oliver Wakeman :: 3 Ages of Magick

What a surprise!Oliver Wakeman joins S.Howe:a nice idea!!

Lethe | Milan, Italy | 01/11/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Well it's a modern prog work, not as complex as some early works by Yes, nevertheless this album - being animated by the same spirit - is worth checking out !! Here you find some celtic stuff and classic structures too, always enriched with a personal modern style of his own...Ya, Mr Oliver Wakeman begins to create a more personal and mature sound in his scores! Such style is sometimes splitted by his father's music trademark, even though you find some spare traces of the best romantic sound, inspired by "6 wives of Henry VIII", the most famous solo work by Rick ... well of course it's not the major part of the album, this one being characterized by a jazzy/funky style and some melodic pop/new age as well. The violin of Jo Greenland and also some Tony Dixon's pipes/flutes are the best complementary musical section, suitable for the airy Oliver's keyboards and piano. Talking about the support of Steve Howe on guitar, his music contribution is tasteful and important as usual, on a number of cuts, and I think of an artist who has never left the 70's music territory, by maintaining anyway the same taste (even though He has never been looking for new technology and modern music effects in the last years, as his style is too much connected to the old era, but nevermind!!)The present album is recommended and naturally it's the most complete work among the last 3 albums by Oliver !!"