CIRRUS BAY – The Search For Joy (2014)
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“The Search For Joy” is the 4th album from US, Washington based Prog / Symphonic rock project CIRRUS BAY led by guitarist / keyboardist Bill Gillham.
The music of Cirrus Bay is inspired by classic Progressive acts like Genesis combined with a breezy Renaissance style as well as some of the melancholy work of White Willow. Two female lead vocalists drive the later reference home.
“The Search For Joy” is musically quite lush sounding and frankly tranquil and serene but there are undercurrents of smoldering fire from Gillham’s guitar. Apart from the excellent keyboards arrangements and the Mellotron sounds (which work wonderfully here), what I liked of Cirrus Bay is the inclusion of viola in many of the tracks. It’s a wonderful addition, playing many heartwrenching melodies, infusing warmth and an organic feel throughout.
The vocals are simply marvellous, gilding, sometimes ethereal, while the musicianship throw off lots of emotions.
The playing in the album’s instrumental, “A Door Into Yesterday”, is a must for classic prog fans, perhaps the track that Tony Banks always wished to write. It sounds like something he could do, in a prog setting, and with the right musicians.
Other favorites include the really melodic “Out of the Box'”, “Learning To Fly”, and the atmospheric “Me and Wokara”. I also have a soft spot for “Cotton Skies”, especially the last minute of the song. In fact, just about every song has an excellent last minute or so, so if one were to skip through tracks without hearing them to the end, they would usually miss the highlight of the track.
Other strengths of this album include the harmony vocals, the overall brilliant sound, and the contributions of guests Amy Darby and Phil Mercy of Thieves’ Kitchen.
There is a warm, spring / summery outdoorsy feel to this highly emotional and beautiful album from Cirrus Bay, which is definitively a mandatory listen for classic progsters.
“The Search For Joy” was found on this CD, plenty of exquisite melodies with its soul in the early-to-mid 1970s, standing in stark contrast to the ‘sound and fury signifying nothing’ of much modern music.
Recommended.
1. Song of the Wind
2. Cotton Skies
3. Me and Wokara
4. Out of the Box
5. Waking Wild
6. A Door Into Yesterday
7. The August Zone
8. Learning To Fly
Anisha Norflet – Lead Vocals (1, 2, 3, 7, 8)
Mark Blasco – Bass, Drums, Backing Vocals
Sarah Sanderson – Viola
Sharra Acle – Lead Vocals (4, 5)
Bill Gillham – Guitars, Keyboards, Auto-Harp, Mellotron, Mandolin, Backing Vocals
with:
Amy Darby – Vocals (5, mid-section)
Phil Mercy – Electric Guitar (8, finale)
Pre-Order:
www.cirrusbay.com/products.html
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