Search - Mystery :: Beneath the Veil of Winter's Face

Masterpiece album

classic guy | boonies | 01/10/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is quite simply one of the best albums I have bought in the last 30 years . All areas of this album are top notch from production to playing to song writing. I do not have one fault with this album. Each and every song on here is better than the next. Melodic with muscle. Highly recommended."

Quite a Find

Ryle Shermatz | Cedar Rapids, IA | 07/14/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I want to be sure that I make the effort to commend the attention of fellow prog-rock "propeller-heads" everywhere to this remarkable band and CD. I took a chance on "Beneath the Veil of Winters' Face" and find it to be quite possibly the best thing I've heard so far in 2009!



I would categorize Mystery as similar to "prog-lite" bands like Ambrosia, Camel, Kayak, Kansas, Sebastian Hardy. I hasten to add that I don't mean "prog-lite" in any pejorative sense, I mean "lite" to indicate accessible, catchy songwriting, enjoyable and rewarding for both driving-to-work listening and "serious" at-home contemplation as well.



I have listened to "Beneath the Veil" dozens of times over the course of several weeks and I find it to be incredibly rich in drama and intensity. The songwriting is outstanding and the production & performance has ferocity and conviction to spare. Clearly this Canadian quartet was "on fire" with creative fever during the creation of this CD and on a mission to get their music to the marketplace regardless of its commercial prospects. To my ears when a band hits the target this squarely they deserve whatever small push appreciative listeners like me can provide to lead other ears to bask in some of the emotive heat they generate here.



Allow me to praise first vocalist Benoit David, whose amazing range REALLY impresses me. Other reviewers mention Jon Anderson of Yes as a comparison, and I think that's fair. Benoit has one of those ridiculously helium-infused voices garden variety baritones like Shermatz (who makes no pretense of being a singer) can't match, even in falsetto. Such a voice could be overly precious or squeaky to other ears, but I find his voice brilliantly effective. The advantage obviously is that having such a powerful and octave-spanning voice significantly broadens the sonic palette available for interpreting the songs. I understand Mystery had a different singer for their preceding three CD's (which I haven't heard), but I suspect they definitely "traded up" when they brought Beniot on board.



Second, I gotta applaud the band's "resident genius," Michel St-Pere, who wrote the songs, and contributed keys, guitar & bass (and produced the recording). Clearly Mystery is his baby and even without hearing their earlier work I think it's safe to say that with this release the band has come into full bloom as a potent creative force. Whether they'll be able to keep the band viable and build on this can't be predicted, but I'm grateful they pushed to get these songs and performances down for posterity on this CD.



I try to avoid tiresome track-by-track recaps, but let me just share a couple of my personal favorites. Really, the first seven tracks (of 10) are solid gold. The track that especially riveted me initially is #4, "Travel to the Night", with multiple high-wire moments and extreme vocal acrobatics from Benoit, who excels with his soaring delivery throughout. Also worthy of mention is "The Scarlet Eye" (track 5) featuring its lumbering, herky-jerky keyboard riff and big cinematic production (this jumbo soundstage is in full force throughout the CD). I also enjoyed greatly the closing track, "The Preacher's Fall", an amusing (and totally credible) slab of "stadium rock" tossed in I suppose just to prove they can do it. Again, the entire CD is incredibly strong from start to finish and I think will engage receptive listeners quickly.



There are many levels on which to appreciate music--especially prog rock--and I confess that I give painfully short shrift to lyrics. Unless they're overtly dumb, I admit lyrics don't resonate much with me until I've FULLY absorbed a CD musically. Full lyrics ARE provide with the CD booklet, which also features some excellent and highly poignant existential color photography, reinforcing (I think) the questing tension of the lyrics (and life itself). I think it's safe to assert that there is plenty of meaningful content here to ponder over months or years of listening and introspective consideration lyrically as well as musically.



I like this CD! I would go the full five stars except that I've diluted my credibility a bit by being excessive with praise for other releases that over time haven't maintained that luster. I must also say that track #8, "The Sailor and the Mermaid" veers a little to deep into simpering singer-songwriter territory for my taste. It's NOT a "bad" song--but seems facile and weak to me especially in contrast to the rest of the CD.



With all preceding absorbed, I hope it won't be too much of a leap of faith for other prospective listeners to add "Beneath the Veil" to their shopping carts. Mystery deserves your attention and support, and I hope that after listening, some of you will take the time to use this forum to affirm my recommendation.





"

Mystery unvailed !

Francisco Neira | Guayaquil-Ecuador, South America | 07/13/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Magic, mystic, powerful...these are definetively the words that distinguish this incredible album.



Michel St. Pere through his unique guitar sound and his magnificent composition skills blends neo prog elements with symphonics intentions that leads you into a journey to new boundaries.



One thing that caught my attention is that the singer of this album (as in the next Mystery one) is Benoit David, Yes`s new lead singer.



Get my advise and don't overlooked this awsome album.



Hope this review was helpful for you !



Francisco"