Jacob Roberge is a Canadian singer, composer and multi-instrumentalist and The Passing is his debut album, a must for fans of Steven Wilson, Pink Floyd, and Neal Morse. The music on The Passing is in fact quite ambitious and I would describe it as classic progressive rock with lots of strings, orchestration, and soaring guitar solos. The Passing features six songs of which the epic title track, clocking in at over thirty minutes, is the absolute highlight; a song that could almost have been an album unto itself. Opening song, The Long Way Home is a beautiful start of this album, featuring a prog-rocky sound, a great chorus, and a wonderful massive guitar solo. Follow up Empty Traces Pt. 1 is in my humble opinion the weakest track of the album, while Garden Of Souls offers the listener 100% pop sensibilities and beautiful, lush vocal harmonies reminding me of Styx at certain times. Pertrichor, the second highlight of this impressive album, is packed with beautiful guitar work and this one even features a trumpet solo. But it is of course the title track which makes The Passing a must have album for prog rock lovers, as this epic "monster" is a masterclass in conceptual musical themes. The Passing is a wonderful cinematic song and Roberge mixes classical and prog rock elements almost immaculately, as this epic offers plenty of soaring and crispy guitar and keyboard solos, while the overall melody of this track is gorgeous indeed. Conclusion: The Passing is sheer musical prog rock bliss and a MUST for fans of Neal Morse, Moon Safari, and Steven Wilson; recommended tracks: The Long Way Home, Petrichor and The Passing, and remember to play it LOUD. **** Martien Koolen (edited by Tracy van Os van den Abeelen) Where to buy? |
