The second album from Darrel Treece Birch and his Atlantea project comes at us just under a couple of years since the debut – Choices. I liked that album plenty (review here) Life builds on that very nicely.
You’ll likely know Darrel for his keyboard work with the likes of Ten and Nth Ascension.
There’s far more to him than keyboards as he shows here again doing all the “heavy lifting” with his drumming, bass and guitars – including some quite nifty soloing. And as with Choices, three’s an ensemble cast of guests.
Life has generally more edge to it than Choices. The songs all very well written and composed with depth and variety veering from chunky, chugging melodic rockers to a full on expansive prog epic and things in between.
New Millennium and Round and Round are a nice couple of catchy melodic rockers.
New Millennium has the big guitar wash, a steady pulsing bass line, nice solo from Darrel’s Ten band mate Dann Rosingana and a liad back vocal.
Round and Round a little chunkier and heavier though no less catchy with the hook and melody.
Light in the Darkness is a ballad with Darrel providing the vocal with his daughter. All very sensitive.
Better Way has a nicely upbeat crunchy/heavy feel to it. Probably the track with the most “oomph” to it. Then to contrast the variety here, Laniakea comes in all atmospheric. Sort of Pink Floydish and lovely measured guitar work.
The title track is bouncy and catchy – then comes the aforementioned full on prog rock epic…..Three Lights.
Eighteen glorious minutes of everything built in to it. Sweepingly atmospheric, progressive, symphonic all at once. In particular the punchy mid-section and the quite stunning guitar based lead out and the keys washes taking care of the final three minutes or so.
Then the chilled out instrumental of Three Robins That Flew Away close out the album.
Darrel commented in the release blurb having this to say: This is Atlantea’s sophomore release and I’ve once again crafted the album around a central theme and concept, albeit that the subject matter is vast. Musically the album is a little rockier in places than Choices, but it is certainly more conceptual particularly in the eighteen minute five part song titled Three Lights. There is of course lots of light and shade, and I present topics of birth, equality, technology, pollution, life’s journey and its ultimate destination. But it’s not a dark album, and I hope people can sense the emotional content.
I think that sums up what Life is all about. Hoping it is in Darrel’s plans to keep the Atlantea project a going concern.
Check out New Millennium as a taster:
Quickly on Darrel’s “day job” with Ten…..they are touring at the moment here in the UK – catch them if you can- and there are new Ten albums in the pipeline I understand.
Life is a digital release – though I believe a very limited number of CDs may be available from Darrel’s BigCartel page in due course.
Links below to that and also Lion Music and Amazon Music for you downloaders/streamers
Big Cartel:
https://darreltreecebirch.bigcartel.com
Lion Music
http://lionmusic.com/shop/Download_Atlantea
Amazon Music
https://amzn.to/4lzJjrZ
As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.