From West Yorkshire, comes the young British musician Dominic Sanderson (guitars, vocals, Mellotron). In 2023 he made his debut with Impermanence. An album we unfortunately did not review at the time. On hindsight this was of course a big mistake. Because after listening to this album only two years later, I can only say that the progressive rock scene has been enriched by an enormous talented musician. A musician who has released his second musical effort. Titled Blazing Revelations. In the Netherlands we always say: "A donkey doesn't bump into the same stone twice". So now we can correct our mistake and tell you why the world is enriched with such a talented musician. On Blazing Revelations he's accompanied by Tristan Apperley (bass, vocals), Jacob Hackett (drums), Embiye Adali (Mellotron, Hammond, Clavinet, Fender Rhodes, piano), and Andy Frizell (saxophones, flute). Together they came up with an album which contains four tracks. Tracks which have an average length of ten minutes each. Those who have heard Sanderson's debut Impermanence, knowwhat to expect on those 4 tracks music wise. Right from the start when I heard his music I knew that this musician might have been influenced by acts such as Steven Wilson, Van der Graaf Generator, King Crimson and Caravan. And guess what was written on his Bandcamp page? "25-year-old progressive rock artist influenced by the likes of Steven Wilson, Van der Graaf, King Crimson and Caravan". Well I guess artists sometimes really tell the truth on their website about their musical inspirations. Sometimes they come up with names that I think that they only wished to sound like. On the four compositions, with a total length of 45 minutes, you are dragged along in a musical rollercoaster where it is sometimes wise to put on your seat belts. Because before you know it you are pulled back and forth in different tempos and styles that make many listeners dizzy. Fortunately I do not suffer from that because I have experienced a lot in this crazy musical world for years. A world where nothing seems too crazy. I especially experienced the musical world of the seventies where everything was possible. Especially because it was possible to do for the first time. Perhaps that is why I can appreciate the music from that time so much and can enjoy it when this music is heard again today. I think that Sanderson probably thinks the same about this and that is why he draws his musical inspiration from the seventies and mixes it with the new ideas of our current time. The first track From The Weeping Cradle is a long up tempo beast of 12 minutes long on which the early King Crimson and Genesis influences are very notable thanks to the many excellent Mellotron parts. Van der Graaf Generator is there too because of the saxophone and organ parts but also because Domenic's voice resembles the voice of the band's lead singer Peter Hammill. Sometimes raw and aggressive, which only Hammill could do. The Jimmy Hastings-style of Canterbury flute parts moves us into the direction of Caravan. The same sax and flute parts on the other hand made me think of early King Crimson albums as well. On the again ten minutes long Faithless Folly the tempo goes down when the song starts. However it is only a way to trick us because the tempo goes faster after a couple of minutes and the exciting sax and Mellotron part seems to burst out of the track. Canterbury influences come to the surface while the song moves on. Sometimes we seem to be In The land Of Pink And Green (Caravan) with David Sinclair kind of organ and piano parts. Pink Floyd also knocks on the door thanks to the lap-steel guitar kind of parts. Next up A Rite Of Wrongs is with only 6 minutes of music the shortest track on the entire album. A mellow piece of music which starts with beautiful Mellotron and flute parts. Together with the acoustic guitar parts this could have been a piece of music taken from the Genesis albums Trespass (1970) and Nursery Cryme (1971). The song is a resting moment on this most of all up tempo album. This exciting album ends with Lullaby For A Broken Dream. With a length of 16 minutes the longest track on the album. On this true epic the sound of early Genesis gets in full blossom most of the time. On the other hand with many excellent Mellotron and saxophone parts early King Crimson and Van der Graaf Generator comes to mind as well. The track is without any doubt the musical highlight on the album. The many time signatures and strong melodies ensures you don't get bored for a single moment. The song goes beautifully into a strong climax with an exciting guitar solo. With additional flute playing it ends the song and album in the best possible way! Musically this is a must have album for many lovers of progressive rock who like the bands from the seventies such as Van der Graaf Generator, King Crimson, Caravan, Genesis and Pink Floyd. And if you love the music of Steven Wilson as well this is an album you can't afford not to buy. This is an album which offers a kind of amalgam of various styles of what is usually referred to as classical or symphonic progressive rock with subtle jazz elements every now and then. This young man and his band did brew on Blazing Revelations a hellish stew of Canterbury, 70s progressive rock, retro, and jazz-rock. Which makes it without any doubt one of the musical highlights of 2025 for me personally. Please check out this amazing album which I highly recommend to everybody! And from now on I want miss any of Domenic's albums! ****+ Henri Strik (edited by Tracy van Os van den Abeelen) Where to buy? |
