Pick of the Week: Transatlantic

By Keith Hannaleck
iBerkshires Columnist
10:10AM / Sunday, March 07, 2010

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Whirlwind (2 CD/DVD Box Set)

With several years between studio albums, Transatlantic felt it was time to meet again and record some more new tracks. Mike Portnoy (drums, Dream Theater), Neal Morse (keys, vocals, Spock's Beard, solo), Pete Trewavas (bass, Marillion) and Roine Stolt (guitar, vocals, The Flower Kings) were all back for another round at Morse's home studio nestled in the country backwoods of Tennessee.

The end result was the prolific two-disc set "Whirlwind" (total time 77:56). The version I was so fortunate to enjoy is the special edition box set with the insightful "The Making of Whirlwind" DVD.

I decided to watch the DVD first before listening to all of the tracks in order to understand the band’s driving force and process. It always helps to be familiar with the musicians (I am extensively), and to see how the entire project fell into place.

First, each member respects one other immensely – that is why Portnoy created this project to begin with. Each band member is successful in his own right with his respective bands, side and solo projects. Similar collaborations in the music industry have failed because of egos and personalities clashing; this was never the case with Transatlantic. The premise here was to create great music on a level playing field; everyone provides equal parts to the whole.

Portnoy and his strong personality and leadership skills are accepted gladly by the other members. On the DVD he is very laid-back and all ears with his mates, helping the band accomplish its goals. It really is an amazing thing to watch, and the DVD really made me feel right at home with the band in Morse's studio. I do not think you could get together four more talented and humble musicians; this is truly a miracle band that creates magic every time they meet, "Whirlwind" being no exception.

Tracks Disc One: 01. Overture / Whirlwind 02. The Wind Blew Them All Away 03. On the Prowl 04. A Man Can Feel 05. Out of the Night 06. Rose Colored Glasses 07. Evermore 08. Set Us Free 09. Lay Down Your Life 10. Pieces of Heaven 11. Is It Really Happening? 12. Dancing with Eternal Glory / Whirlwind (Reprise) Bonus Disc: 01. Spinning 02. Lenny Johnson 03. For Such A Time 04. Lending A Hand 05. The Return Of The Giant Hogweed 06. A Salty Dog 07. I Need You 08. Soul Sacrifice DVD: The Making of Whirlwind

Genre: Progressive Rock Label:  Radiant Records Web site Source Link Amazon Link

The first disc consist of 12 tracks, all master strokes of prog-rock genius – how could it not be with these four legendary performers? I would be hard-pressed to name any drummer right now that is better than Portnoy, and Morse is a fantastic writer/singer/keyboard player. If you ever listen to any of the older Spock’s Beard or any of his solo material… well, the proof is in the pudding, as they say. Those unfamiliar with Morse’s career path should know he went from Spock’s Beard into a prog-rock Christian solo career. Those influences are apparent in this release and relevant to the grand scheme of things with this band, but not overbearing. Stolt is simply amazing, and always has been; "The Flower King" has been one of the busiest people in music, and he is involved in so many different things I cannot keep track! Trewavas is an awesome bass player who does a little singing, too. He has a fantastic ability to put together a song, constructing it from the bottom up. Morse mentions this fact in a short interview on the DVD.

Okay, enough of my over-indulgent kudos, but I think they all deserve it.

All 12 tracks on disc one are vintage Transatlantic. What is special about this recording is that you can hear the influences of every member’s band. Yet, they create a sound that defines the genre "progressive" while maintaining a certain originality that I find hard to describe. I loved the way the album kicked off with the nearly 10-minute opus "Overture / Whirlwind." The song begins with a regal keyboard opening and orchestration, then changes into something you would hear on a Flower Kings album, with a beautiful instrumental intro and a positive vibe that carries you through the entire listen. The highlight of this track is when Stolt and Morse do a give-and-take vocal response. Excellent musicianship supports all the vocals consistently from start to finish.

As you make your way through each track, you start wishing that this band would work together more often, but it is a side project and schedules are tight, so you remain grateful for what you are hearing. By the time Morse's "Rose Colored Glasses" rolls around you do not want this prog-rock nirvana to end.  The song is a heartfelt composition from Morse to his father, who died last year. The track has tremendous meaning but keeps intact the elements of prog while offering enough commercial feel that you could imagine it as a hit radio single. It breaks up the album at mid-point before the disc launches back into a full-scale, prog-rock onslaught with all the trimmings. Everything is here: the power and majesty of the genre, rocking moments and times of gentle reflection with spacey interludes, and then it all changes as quickly as it started in typical transitory, prog fashion. There is nothing left for chance here; make no mistake about it.

If that isn’t enough, the bonus disc takes you through a rock ‘n’ roll/prog 101 class with exceptional covers, including Portnoy doing a great job on vocals with his father’s favorite tune, the Procol Harum classic "Salty Dog." The cover of "Soul Sacrifice" is excellent and not a particularly easy song to cover, with its intricate melodies and percussion – yet Transatlantic pulls it off with flying colors. Another fun listen is the fine representation from the Genesis catalog, "Return of the Giant Hogweed." Transatlantic lays its stake in the ground as one of the best group of musicians in the world with that cover.

Always the first to acknowledge and credit their influences, bands from the world of prog believe in giving credit where it is due. So do I: This is a masterful production that everyone who enjoys prog rock should add to their collection. Even some jazz fusion listeners would find enjoyment in this recording, as that genre sneaks in periodically and gives you a jolt.

This is 100-percent prog rock with some of the best musicians delivering it.

For more reviews, www.muzikreviews.com; comments or questions on this or any other review, info@muzikreviews.com.

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