Dream Aria are a Canadian band featuring the many talents of Donald Stagg (composer, lyrics, keyboards, arranger, producer), the drums of Gary Gray, the fretwork of Jozef Pilasanovic, and the very impressive vocal abilities of foxy chick Ann Burstyn. In The Wake is apparently their first album, but they all must have been around previously because it's a very accomplished debut!

It all starts with the slightly over electronic sounding Spirit, and the first thing you notice, after the Phil Collins-like intro is the quality of Ann Burstyn's powerful voice. The song sounds like it could burst open at any point, but refrains until it goes all Scottish at the end, with bagpipes and a tattoo drum beat.Sungoddess continues to smoulder like a fire about to catch and yet again Ann's voice shines through, nearly operatic in places.

The two part title track In The Wake comes next. The first part, Soul, starts off with an Indian chant over running water and Chilean pan pipes, and contains just that, and serves as a prelude to part 2 - Body, which could almost be a recent Pallas song, with female vocals of course. Very impressive for all that, even if it is a bit short. Never mind, cos that just brings closer the space rock of Blue Lady, with its frenetic drums. Guitar and bass join in, to make it reminiscent of mid-80's Pallas, or Arena in one of their more tuneful moments. Genesis influences come to the fore here also. None of this is a bad thing, you get me? This could be their best track, Dream Aria at their most cohesive perhaps. Also the influence of bands such as Nightwish, Lacuna Coil and Arch Enemy.

Snapshot cools the album back down again, a well needed breather live maybe, showcasing Staggs keywork interplayed with some of Burstyns more restrained vocals. With Pacis it's back to the operatic singing over a tecnho beat, restrained guitar soloing in the distance.

Promise takes the band into 80's prog-pop land again, more Pallas or Menel-IQ than It Bites again, though again they choose to dance to a different beat. This is stalked by He Touched My Soul. This is a pleasantly chilled ballard which had me asking how come Celine Dion got so famous? Ann sounds so much better. Mind you, Canada has produced some excellent singers in KD Lang, Joni Mitchell, Diana Krall, Suzanne Vega, Nelly Farturdo, Maryen Cairns, the Wilsons, Shania Twain and Avril Lavigne. As well as Alanis Morissette.

The next track, Raindrops, finally clears up was has been nagging at the back of my mind - Dream Aria remind me of 90's band's Lives and Times and b>Blyndsyde - though not as heavy as the latter, with the haunting vocals and keyboard dominance. Opus Dei is another slow ballard, with Ann's voice shining bright again. This, to me, sounds like the idea way to end an album! However, it doesn't and the next track, Spanish Nights unfortunately leaves me cold. For some reason it is unmemorable, and the final track 11th Hour is a straight forward rocker and even though it does get mildly interesting near the end, it also does nothing for me. But apart from those two, this is a strong debut.

Check out their website (mastered by Ann) at www.dreamaria.com or just take a punt and but the CD from www.indiepool.com

TRACKILST
Spirit
Sungoddess
In The Wake - Soul
In The Wake - Body
Blue Lady
Snapshot
Pacis
Promise
He Touched My Soul
Raindrops
Opus Dei
Spanish Nights
11th Hour

BAND
Ann Burstyn - Vocals
Don Stagg - Keyboards
Jozef Pilasanovic - Guitars
Gary Gray - Drums

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