Having listened to the likes Rick Wakeman, Genesis, ELP, Yes, and Pink Floyd for a long time, the chance to review the modern-day equivalent of a prog band “supergroup” in LTE was one that was too good to pass up. Listening to multiple genres of music for the best part of 50 years, there are times in everyone’s existence where life “gets in the way” of aural experimentation. Bands such as Dream Theater and LTE would fall into one of those periods along with Seattle grunge scene of Nirvana and Alice in Chains. This is as a result of boxing up your vinyl collection and exchanging it for videos of Thomas the Tank Engine and Bob the Builder – yes kids.
However, kids grow up and then develop their own taste and try to influence your listening- this has happened to me over the last 12 or so years and I have discovered many bands I would not have-so every cloud as they say.
While I am aware of the multiple key changes and timing alterations that can make prog a less “popular” genre of music there is no doubting the talent of the musicians who extol their skills in this genre. It would not take a lot to review the previous bands mentioned to realise the influence they have had over the music scene.
Then there are some names that are synonymous with skill, ability and artistry-hence the “supergroup” title associated with LTE. With membership that reads like a modern day “whos who” of the prog world the skill on display for your aural pleasure the quality (and track lengths) are no surprise. However, it took a global pandemic (and 20 years) and the inability to tour and play live to drive Mike Portnoy, John Petrucci, Jordan Rudess and Tony Levin to produce this masterclass in instrumental progarythmic pleasure.
Eight tracks of a varying length and style are kicked off in a pace, rhythm and style that I was unaware could be achieved by musicians-never mind the ability to listen to the nuances within the rate, rhythm and style of ‘Hypersonic’ – hyper being the perfect description.
‘Beating The Odds’ is a “shorter” track, at just over six minutes, but the keyboard reminds me of the tracks from Rick Wakeman’s ‘King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table’ album. ‘Liquid Evolution’ has more of Peter Gabriel jungle feel to the rhythm and style – much more laid back than the first two – so you can see the individual musical influences on the band. ‘The Passage of Time’ is much more of a guitar driven style with the keyboards supporting the guitars and the rattle of Portnoy’s drumming still amazes-how someone can play drums that quickly takes my breath away.
‘Chris and Kevin’s Amazing Odyssey’ is just an amazing duet between electric upright bass of Tony Levin and Mike Portnoy that has the guttural feel of the musical style of The Hu. Then there is the piece de resistance – an absolutely jaw dropping rendition of Gershwin’s ‘Rhapsody in Blue’, that is 13 minutes of sheer ecstasy. Those who have seen LTE live will have witnessed this firsthand – and to take such a blues classic and “prog it up” takes a special group of musicians. This could only have been improved if it had been supported by a full philharmonic orchestra – but they could have only augmented the sound and fullness of this already sublime version: maybe one day in the Royal Albert Hall… I’d like to be there for that!
‘Shades of Hope’ brings you down to just over four minutes of relaxation that could be a theme tune for any modern-day romance movie tearjerker. Finally, the 13-minute progtastic ‘Key to the Imagination; it starts slowly and is carried throughout by subtle drumming of Portnoy and the blues guitar of Petrucci in the intro before something akin to ‘Mission Impossible’ theme styling and bass and keyboard rattle attack, with multiple rhythm and timing changes as well as more piano style to various sections.
This is one whole mother of a jamming session by four artists at the top of their game who obviously enjoyed the two weeks it took them to put this together. I have only one word – breathtaking!
- ‘LTE3’ is out now. You can get your copy HERE.
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