(Progressive Rock / Classical) Cary clouser - Finger paintings ( Like : Jethro Tull, Yes, Kansas, Steve Howe ) - 2009, MP3 (tracks), 320 kbps

Cary Clouser hails from St Anns in Ontario, Canada and is, it has to be said, insanely talented. Not only is he responsible for all the music and lyrics on this self produced promo, but he also sings, plays all the instruments, programmes the drums and to top it off he produced and engineered the thing. He probably made the tea as well. He does have a little help, in the form of guest players - some of whom you’re bound to recognise - on some of the tracks but by and large this is all him.
All this hard work seems to have paid off for him as he recently signed to Melodic Revolution Records so expect to see this released with prog-friendly label support in the not too distant future.
Cary cites his influences as Jethro Tull, Yes, Mozart, Chick Corea, Steely Dan, Beatles, Kansas, Chicago and it is to be noted he is lead vocalist and plays flute / keyboards / acoustic & electric guitar and mandolin in Oracle, winners of Canadian awards for best tribute band and best bar band. They’ve been together since 1990 and whilst primarily a mixed 70’s cover band are heavily influenced by Jethro Tull.
That classic Tull flute sound pops up here and there on this record, an original, refreshing symphonic prog album that wears its influences firmly on its sleeve, as I suppose Magenta did with Revolutions when they were just starting out. Vocally, Cary sounds not unlike one of my favourite singers, Glenn McLaughlin of Iluvatar. He’s got quite a range, and can do justice to the rocky stuff as well as the more symphonic, pastoral pieces.
Clocking in at just over a minute or so, opener Into thy Hands is a symphonic, choral opener that lets you know just what it is your going to be listening to for the next 50 minutes or so.
Don’t Know? is a rockier track, with a great guitar riff, fantastic vocals and some Tull flute, before a reasonably abrupt fade. Whilst it’s only a tad over three minutes long there’s so much going on here you feel he is showcasing his talent for prospective labels. Given his recent deal, it must have worked.
Ship Of Pride – bit longer this one, at just over 7 minutes, with some great Steve Howe guitar moments and lovely organ washes. Then we head on over to blues town, with Clouser throwing twin electric guitars round the speakers before calming down with a gentler bit of acoustic / electric interplay. Lyrically we’re in the realms of ‘wings of reason’, ‘travellers’, ‘inner flames’ and ‘the challenge of being one’. The track closes with a jazzy keyboard excursion before some more Steve Howe inspired guitar.
Precious – the album’s longest track, at over 9 minutes, begins with a child’s voice, which quickly segues into a fragile vocal with piano accompaniment. An emotionally charged song this, that may well have you reaching for the hankies, with lyrics about a father’s relationship with, and love for his child. “The moment when you looked at me, I fell in love with you”. I’m blubbing as I write this. A bit Turn Of The Century, in that it gradually builds, from simple piano and acoustic guitar before letting rip with some Drama – era Yes, a hint of a Supper's Ready riff and restrained flute in the style of Peter Gabriel. Then it’s a riff reminiscent of Machine Messiah before an Awaken harp moment and some more acoustic fretwork. Then we’re back to more Drama, and Tony Banks keyboards before we reach the upbeat “good to have you home again” lyrical ending with Francis Dunnery guitar stylings. Lovely.
Have You Heard? is another shorter, rockier track, reminiscent of Lynryd Skynryd.
It’s Time could have fit in quite nicely on Iluvatar’s A Story Two Days Wide. There’s some dreamy bass underpinning Damon Shulman’s restrained, jazzy guitar soloing.
Shine – Brett Kull of Echolyn guests on guitar, and Dylan Howe adds his drums. More Tull flute, and Kull’s wonderfully evocative, upbeat guitar playing. Another fantastic vocal performance too, as well as a languid, fat bass sound. This is a song that demands to be played at summer barbeques, or in your open-topped sports car. If you have one. If not, just wind the windows down. Now, I’ve seen Brett Kull play live both here and in the States, both with Echolyn and Dunnery’s New Progressives and he has to be, in my opinion, one of the finest guitarists in this or any other genre. No surprise, then, that this is a contender for my favourite track. Not only that, but my little girl dances like mad every time it comes on. Who said you can’t dance to prog?
Tracks 8 and 9 comprise the 1st and 2nd impressions of Dark and Darker, a haunting solo piano suite.
Precious is then reprised in a shorter edit divided up into three separate tracks, Bright Morning Sun, Life Lessons and Home Again.