DAVID MINASIAN ~ The Sound of Dreams
![[Image: R-15923097-1600267536-9559.jpeg.jpg]](https://img.discogs.com/FPOlBCo9hxI2toF5WbviCo67uUU=/fit-in/300x300/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-15923097-1600267536-9559.jpeg.jpg)
Minasian has released a couple of albums (four in four decades), first appearing on my radar because Andrew Latimer plays lead on a track on the release prior to this, but in actual fact, he is first and foremost a film producer, screenwriter and director, while his songwriting and musicianship (at which he is thoroughly proficient – vocals, keys, guitars & percussion) has taken a back seat during the course of a busy career. He’s worked on a couple of concert films, hence his associations with the likes of Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues, and Andy Latimer – Camel.
He enlists a few friends on this one – Justin Hayward, Annie Haslem, Billy Sherwood, Steve Hackett, Julie Ragins (backing singer for the Moody Blues), P J Olsson (Alan Parsons Live Project), Geof O’Keefe (who is a metal drummer and guitarist – Pentagram/Bedemon) and last but not least, his son – another Justin who wields a very nice axe or two thank you! He must’ve been taking lessons from Uncle Andy. Minasian himself takes a few vocal leads, and therein lies a very funny thing; he has a very similar timbre and vibe as a looong ago South African band, for me – just made me think of Neill Solomon and the Uptown Rhythm Dogs - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84kZNCrcLQo – for example. Not the actual music - the general sound.
Vocals don’t really take over on this album, they blend into the whole affair which I quite like. You can hear them perfectly well, but they don’t dominate. It’s pretty symphonic with a shortish heavy diversion that came as a surprise in “Twin Flames at Twilight”. All in all, a good mix of instrumental and vocal tracks and I think it’s going to grow on me – or should I say, it has. It’s not earth-shattering, but it’s also not boring, plenty of texture when you get into it, and at a very painless 73 minutes, this is the type of music I can happily wallow in for a while so it works for me!
There’s enough David Minasian on show here to stamp his ownership of the concept and final product, however, sharing the limelight with a few noteworthy allies has not only done him a favour, I think it showcases their particular talents too. Melodic, intelligent, and indisputably competent. One of the best new album listens I’ve enjoyed this year. Likety like!
May as well begin at the beginning ... Justin Hayward's on this one ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=By12PmtUlA4
and this is the second track (which brought Neill Solomon to mind) -
Love this instrumental too - the third track on the album ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2tAtxRPbV8, and Steve Hackett's one is also fab - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STdZ9krEOFY, as are the Annie Haslem tracks - the epilogue in particular - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZ7r66aDelA ... oh - just listen to the whole thing!
Minasian has released a couple of albums (four in four decades), first appearing on my radar because Andrew Latimer plays lead on a track on the release prior to this, but in actual fact, he is first and foremost a film producer, screenwriter and director, while his songwriting and musicianship (at which he is thoroughly proficient – vocals, keys, guitars & percussion) has taken a back seat during the course of a busy career. He’s worked on a couple of concert films, hence his associations with the likes of Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues, and Andy Latimer – Camel.
He enlists a few friends on this one – Justin Hayward, Annie Haslem, Billy Sherwood, Steve Hackett, Julie Ragins (backing singer for the Moody Blues), P J Olsson (Alan Parsons Live Project), Geof O’Keefe (who is a metal drummer and guitarist – Pentagram/Bedemon) and last but not least, his son – another Justin who wields a very nice axe or two thank you! He must’ve been taking lessons from Uncle Andy. Minasian himself takes a few vocal leads, and therein lies a very funny thing; he has a very similar timbre and vibe as a looong ago South African band, for me – just made me think of Neill Solomon and the Uptown Rhythm Dogs - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84kZNCrcLQo – for example. Not the actual music - the general sound.
Vocals don’t really take over on this album, they blend into the whole affair which I quite like. You can hear them perfectly well, but they don’t dominate. It’s pretty symphonic with a shortish heavy diversion that came as a surprise in “Twin Flames at Twilight”. All in all, a good mix of instrumental and vocal tracks and I think it’s going to grow on me – or should I say, it has. It’s not earth-shattering, but it’s also not boring, plenty of texture when you get into it, and at a very painless 73 minutes, this is the type of music I can happily wallow in for a while so it works for me!
There’s enough David Minasian on show here to stamp his ownership of the concept and final product, however, sharing the limelight with a few noteworthy allies has not only done him a favour, I think it showcases their particular talents too. Melodic, intelligent, and indisputably competent. One of the best new album listens I’ve enjoyed this year. Likety like!
May as well begin at the beginning ... Justin Hayward's on this one ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=By12PmtUlA4
and this is the second track (which brought Neill Solomon to mind) -
Love this instrumental too - the third track on the album ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2tAtxRPbV8, and Steve Hackett's one is also fab - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STdZ9krEOFY, as are the Annie Haslem tracks - the epilogue in particular - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZ7r66aDelA ... oh - just listen to the whole thing!
"The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us." ~ Bill Watterson
