(Symphonic Prog / Progressive Rock) Neverness - Discography (3CD) - 2002-2009, FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

A new band from Valladolid, Spain,NEVERNESS were formed in 1998 as a four-piece group and experimented in different sounds and styles, trying to create an elaborate sound close to the 70's progressive spirit with a definite modern touch.In their first work ''Horizonte de sucesos'', released in 2002 on Armando Records,the band presents this exact fact.
Modern progressive rock mixed with some 70's hints and a blend of Hard Rock with symphonic and psychedelic flavors.''Horizonte de sucesos'' seems to be rather guitar oriented,but the guitar work is always supported by any kind of keys: light Hammond organ,piano passages,modern symphonic keyboards and even some nostalgic mellotron.Split in two styles,the album offers at one time hard/symph prog,not far from bands like AKACIA or AFTER THE FALL with intense vocals and long instrumentals. On the other hand,some vintage guitar work accompanied by massive vocal lines will remind you of some Argentinian bands of the past like early-INVISIBLE.What is to be concluded is that NEVERNESS seem to try to find their own identity and focused musicianship through this album,blending so many different styles in their compositions that even the most experienced prog-head will find it hard to follow it all the way.This might be a band with potential and perhaps some bright future in this scene...but not for now...definitely a collector's thing...2 stars.

This is a Spanish four piece band that was founded in the late Nineties, this debut CD was released in 2002.
Neverness their sound is powerful and dynamic melodic rock delivering fiery and propulsive guitar work by the two guitarplayers (including the singer). But the frequent, very flowing shifting moods and the varied vitnage keyboard sound give Neverness their music on this CD a strong progressive touch. A few examples: a hypnotizing rhythm with Fender Rhodes piano and fiery guitar in Hasta El Final, strong Spanish vocals (expressive and slightly theatrical), wonderful Mellotron and a biting wah-wah guitar solo in Finjo Y Miento, a break with blistereing wah-wah guitar and fluent drums in the titletrack and warm, a bit melancholical vocals in the psychedelic inspired (mainly because of the organ sound) in Todo Acabara. But the two highlights are the 'epic' compositions (both almost 20 minutes) that start and close this album.
First 10 anos Y Un Dia : the first part shifts between fiery wah-wah and mellow Hammond organ waves (like Procol Harum), then an accellaration with a synthesizer solo and tight drums, culminating in a dreamy part with twanging guitars and warm vocals. The song continues with a powerful rhythm including a compelling, very strongly build-up guitar solo with howling runs, supported by lush Hammond organ. Gradually the atmosphere becomes more propulsive featuring swirling Hammond organ, powerful guitar riffs and a fiery guitar solo with piano. Then lots of changing climates with great work on guitar and keyboards and in the end sparkling piano, emotional vocals and captivating interplay between guitar, organ and rums, what a splendid composition!
The final track is Malahierva : a mid- tempo with fluent synthesizer runs between parts with twanging guitars, then a long, quite experimental interlude (that sounds different from the rest of the CD) featuring varied work on the piano and electric guitar, accompanied by acoustic rhythm guitar. Neverness returns to their dynamic and powerful sound with a mid-tempo that delivers a strong duel between synthesizer and wah- wah guitar. The atmosphere changes into heavy with a biting wah-wah guitar solo but suddenly a dreamy part with Grand piano, slowly changing into a grand finale with swinging piano and a fiery guitar solo, meanwhile I have turned into a Neverness aficionado![/pre]

This Spanish formation was founded in the late Nineties and in 2002 they released their debut album entitled Horizonte De Sucesos. The it took five years until Neverness produced a successor but if you listen to it, you can conclude that the time was worth waiting, the band has made a huge progress, what a wonderful and often exciting CD!
The sound of Neverness has no obvious references, every track (between 5 and 13 minutes) on the album contains lots of flowing shifting moods with many interesting musical ideas and a dynamic rhythm-section. A very captivating element is the contrast between the rock-oriented guitar work and the varied 'vintage keyboard' sound, from Mellotron and Moog synthesizer to Fender Rhodes piano, Farfisa organ and Solina string-ensemble. I was carried away during the strongly build-up and often very compelling guitar soli like in Muro De Cristal - Maldita Esperanza (from sensitive to fiery) and Sin Horizonte (long and bluesy with great support on strings and organ). Other great moments are the pyschedelic sounding intro during Desde El Silencio (the guitar and organ sound evoke Pink Floyd At Pompeii), the variety and wonderful vintage keyboards (Mellotron, organ and piano) in Mi Mundo Al Reves and the many goodmusical ideas in the captivating final song Mundo De Locos (4 parts).
I am impressed by this second effort by this new Spanish band, what a good musicians and what a wonderful and often compelling compositions, a big hand for Neverness![/pre]

Third time out by this Spanish act, and while their foundation in late 70's Floydian isn't one too original the additions they provide as the songs move along does represent a different flavour to this style.
Floating spacey textures and atmospheric guitar soloing from the Gilmour school seems to be the starting point for the band in each track here, and the additional textures added in as the composition evolves are basically of two kinds: Distorted guitar soloing and riffs of a more Frippian nature and heavier riffs closer to hard rock in style, often backed by surging organ Deep Purple style. At times additional symphonic textures are utilized as well. Towards the end the different sounds and textures are usually blended into a more all encompassing expression, often in a more intense and energetic grand finale final motif.
In the first half of this disc Neverness seems to struggle quite a bit with the transitions, providing tracks with plenty of good and interesting ideas mashed together in what for me became an annoying start and stop manner. The final three tracks are more coherent in that respect and generally comes across as better compositions overall, but the motifs and themes are slightly less intriguing as well. A mixed affair then, but worth checking out if late 70's Floyd and hard rock sounds like a good mix.[/pre]