You may be aware that Darrel Treece-Birch has been the keyboard whizz in Ten for a good few years. As it’s been a while since we last had a new Ten album, Darrel’s been keeping himself busy with his side side project of Atlantea.
Just about a year or so since Life, we now have Truthsayer – the third Atlantea album. That was in general a bit more rocked up than the debut of Choices and Truthsayer continues that trend.
Darrel describes Truthsayer as being: “a collection of songs regarding myths, mysteries, the supernatural and the speculated. It’s progressive, melodic, rocky, ambient and very me.”
I think that covers what we have here very well. And as before, Darrel handles all the writing and most of the instrumentation himself though brings in Ten bandmates Gary Hughes, Dann Rosingana and Steve Grocott and a couple of former colleagues from his Nth Ascension amongst a few others to chip in here and there.
The opening two of the title track and Better Side of Me immediately bring in the rocky stuff. Both being punchy melodic rockers with a bit of a proggy edge. Catchy with plenty of hooks along the way. Better side of me has a dirty bassline pushing it along.
What If quietens things down a bit being generally acoustic-based with washes of atmospheric keys and some moody guitar towards the end.
Gary Hughes pops up for the vocals on Kindred Spirits – another fine hardish melodic rocker which would sit nicely on any Ten album. Some fine solo work here too from Rosingana which helps to give the Ten feel.
Mandela Effect changes the mood coming in as one with an unconventional yet compelling feel to it. Pulsing, heavy, dark and urgent. Check it out:
Atlantis Overture starts to bring in the proggier side being an instrumental which gradually builds as Darrel gives himself a showcase with all sorts of keys, synths and everything else. Very well composed.
We Go Beyond and Ocean Song edge towards the ambient side before giving way to the progressive-based epic of Begin Again. So well paced with plenty of depth to it and a real grower. The solo from Steve Grocott is superb.
Mixing the styles up further is the closer of Deconstruction of Self. Generally piano-based, this one is haunting, atmospheric and emotive.
Overall, Truthsayer gives an interesting and varied listen with the project hitting its stride with this third Atlantea album.
My thanks as always to Darrel for the review copy.
Truthsayer is released digitally via Lion Music. It’s available directly from the label (as are the preceding two albums) here:
https://www.lionmusic.com/shop/Download_Atlantea.html
Also Amazon Music here:
https://link.amazon/B09JcJUOT
I’d imagine you’ll find it on other digital platforms, though I don’t understand those things.
There is, I’m told, a very limited number of CDs. Message Darrel via Facebook to enquire.
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