As an Old School sympho maniac and vintage keyboard aficionado I was very curious to hear this debut album of Atomic Sun after I read a lot of euphoric words on the Internet. To my delight I found the entire CD on Bandcamp and immediately started my first listening session. Well, from the very first moment I was blown away, this is the music I still love the most, 70s vintage keyboard drenched symphonic rock but also a fair amount of good rock guitar. The musicians are former Galahad member Mike "moogtron" Hewetson (Minimoog voyager, ASM Hydrasynth, Nord wave/ Access virus TI2/ Roland Jupiter 80, Mellotron M4000D/ Hammond organ SK-1/ Solina strings -module-, Moog Taurus Bass pedals MK 1 -module-, Cort bass guitar and Roland TD-11 drum kit) and Jon Barry (Ibanez and Gibson electric - and 12 string guitars), know from The Far Meadow. On the Internet I read that the Roland TD-11 drumkit is hailed for sounding very natural and the Cort bass guitar is described as 'the best kept secret in the world of the bass guitar, very promising words! Atomic Sun Part 1: First an impressive church organ sound, majestic Mellotron choirs, then tender piano, blended with Mellotron violins. Next a bombastic eruption with moving guitar and Moog Taurus bass pedals, soon joined by Minimoog flights, followed by a mid-tempo with a long and swirling Hammond organ solo, did anyone say Keith Emerson? I am very pleased with the excellent work on the electronic drumkit, very natural, far from the irritating drum machine! Now another moving guitar solo with howling runs and Moog Taurus bass pedals, very compelling, and a great conclusion of this first part, in the end Mellotron choirs join, goose bumps! Atomic Sun Part 2: A glorious Mellotron sound, then a slow rhythm with sensitive electric guitar runs, bass pedals, Hammond and slow drum beats, Focus comes to my mind. Next a bombastic acceleration with rock guitar and fat Minimoog flights, a kind of heavy ELP, how exciting! Then the Mellotron violins take over from the Moog, in a compelling and bombastic climate, with powerful drum beats, Mellotron choirs and biting guitar leads, trademark Atomic Sun, what a debut, and we are not even halfway of this album! Atomic Sun Part 3: An intro with tender piano, then a sumptuous outburst in a slow rhythm with fat Minimoog flights. Next an obvious tribute to ELP, powerful and exciting featuring awesome work on the Minimoog, with spectacular use of the pitchbend button. Halfway back to mellow with a soaring church organ sound and a moving guitar solo, backed by Moog Taurus bass pedals and Mellotron choirs, you cannot beg for more, this is top notch Old School symphonic rock (reminding me of Dutch act Finch), wow! Finally majestic Mellotron violins, as a tribute to In The Court Of The Crimson King (King Crimson), with those bass pedals, and again moving guitar and Mellotron choirs, wow! Atomic Blues: First a dreamy atmosphere, embellished with twanging electric guitar and electric piano, then a slow rhythm in a typical blues atmosphere, I am in the mood and love the compelling guitar play in the vein of Gary Moore, howling and screaming. Next a soaring church organ sound, then again, the compelling blues atmosphere with an intense blues guitar solo, topped with Mellotron choirs and Moog Taurus bass pedals, the best of two worlds, I am in Symphonic Blues Heaven! A Monk's Prayer: The intro sounds like a tribute to the legendary Mellotron work in Wacher Of The Skies (Genesis). Then a slow rhythm with a sumptuous climate, embellished with church organ, Minimoog, Mellotron choirs, wow, this is Vintage Keyboard Heaven! Now the music turns into mellow with an awesome Mellotron sound (hail to Tony Banks), then impressive and sparkling church organ (hail to Rick Wakeman), followed by again wonderful work on the Mellotron and then a long and moving guitar solo in a slow rhythm and bombastic climate, joined by Mellotron choirs and Moog Taurus bass pedals, goose bumps, what a grand finale, this is what genuine symphonic rock is about, unsurpassed! P.S.: Mike told me that he has been playing keyboards for 42 years, bass for 30 years and for 6 years he is playing drums. At this moment Atomic Sun are working on a second album, I am eagerly waiting for that! ***** Erik Neuteboom (edited by Dave Smith) Where to buy? |
