Sometimes CD's surprise you. This year, there has been loads of words spoken about this and that forthcoming release, how good that is, and the other will blow your socks off. Loads of albums surrounded in a haze of publicity, but this one snuck out in a blaze of obscurity. Last year, even. As such, I wasn't really expecting much from this.

I was wrong. It doesn't happen often, and I'll hold my hands up.

Ray Turrell and co have created a wonderful, if short, concept album that deserves a wider audience. Let me try to explain.

The Dreamer Dreams opens the piece in an atmospheric way: very spacey, with soundbites, reminiscent of Pink Floyd's Momentary Lapse Of Reason intro in places, ends with the classic line "Do you believe in conspiracies?" "Well, I believe in conspiracy theories". This moves on to Beyond The Clouds, which we've played on Podcast 12. Another great track with fine interplay between the David Roy's andPaula Cunningham's voices, and cool gilmouresque guitar work from Gavin Fletcher.

Through The Eye Of A Telescope is next, and is slightly heavier, in a Porcupine Tree way. Instrumental yet crammed full with more NASA soundbites, giving the album an updated Hawkwind feel.

By the time Universal Dot To Dot kicks in, you'll realise that this isn't really a collection of songs, but rather a single piece of music in distinct parts, much like Pure Reason Revolution's work. This is furthered by the segue into Changing Horizon, which reminds me of Church Of Hawkwind or maybe Choose Your Masques.

The Dreamers Dreamed winds the album down nicely, recapping some of the musical threads explored in previous tracks, whilst never sounding rehashed. Another good vocal performance by Nicki Allen allows the final flourish to last in the memory for a long while.

All in all an excellent debut album by the band, the only downside being the rather short length - under 30 minutes. But even that isn't a real problem, as I'd prefer to have a shorter, focused album than a long meandering double album packed with fillers.

One of my albums of the year!

Ray Turrell - Mastermind

John Grosberg - Keys

Wayne Sowden - Drums

David Roy - Guitar

Paula Cunningham - Vox

Nicki Allen - Vox

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