Mark Trueack is certainly no stranger to the world of progressive rock. His albums with Unitopia, United Progressive Fraternity (UPF), and The Samurai Of Prog, to name just a few, have earned him a reputation as a great lead singer. Like many others before him, musicians sometimes venture solo. Mark is no exception. Why? Usually because they can't always express their musical talents to their trusted employer, or, as in Mark's case, they need to raise money for a good cause. That's why he previously released his first solo work, Save Us (2025, see review) to help cover the costs of a natural disaster in his home country of Thailand. But most solo albums contain music that sounds different from the albums made with the bands in which the musician normally sings or plays. This also applies to Mark's new album Journeys Groove - An Adventure In Life. Released only six months later after Save Us, shortly after his seventieth birthday. Actually, it's an album that has little to do with progressive rock. But because his musical talents are well-known in the genre, we can't help but tell you what this album sounds like. Trueack's album Journey's Groove - An Adventure in Life is an intensely personal, autobiographical work which tells the story of Mark's life. Through fourteen varied musical songs, he explains how his life has unfolded so far, with ups and downs. He didn't consider whether these compositions would please everyone musically, thereby making them sound like the aforementioned acts. No, he went his own way, developing his own musical style. Sometimes, he uses the musical style he describes in the year of his life. In doing so, he deviates from the familiar musical paths he previously trod. He gives everyone a very personal glimpse into his life. It begins with his birth, then follows him through his youth and his rebellion against his own father. At that age, you think you know everything better and go against your parents' good intentions. His first love, his first kiss, is also touched upon. Even the first man on the moon is sung about. Naturally, his health and divorce are also discussed. This, in turn, leads him to meet a new love in a country other than Australia: Thailand. Mark's entire story is wonderfully portrayed by the well-known Ed Unitsky. We see Mark from a young boy to a seasoned man who has just turned seventy. In between we experience all his adventures, which are colourfully depicted and provided with text by Mark himself. Of course Mark did not do everything on his own to come up with this solo album. His musical partners in crime are the well-known names. The album was recorded with friend and fellow Unitopia musician Sean Timms. Produced by Mark but mixed and mastered by Timms. Mark did the lead and backing vocals and wrote of course all the lyrics. Sean Timms played most of the keyboard, piano and programming parts plus some backing vocals. Philippe Storez played bass guitar on Go-Kart. Unitopia, UPF and The Samurai Of Prog friend Steve Unruh played guitar on One Small Step and played on the violin and did some vocals on Mechanical Love. Chris Lebled did some keys and programming on Mechanical Love, Show Me How To Love, and co-wrote New Beginning. Unitopia bassist Don Schiff did play Stick bass on Mechanical Love. Jamison Smeltz played sax on Show Me How To Love, Go Kart and Reality Breakthrough. David Buchholz did some keyboards and arrangements for Running Away. Amanda Timms did some backing vocals. Finally, Nippon Sanboon, Aoi Chanchayapop and Kris Sookhnoom Thai did vocals on Show Me How To Love. Although it is not really progressive rock, Mark has created a very good sounding album in which many musical styles emerge that may also appeal to fans of our genre. The album is not typical progressive rock, but rather a blend of pop, soul, jazz, groove, funk, and world music elements. This musical approach is very varied and is reflecting different eras of Mark's life, which may not appeal to all die-hard progressive rock fans, but offers a rich and diverse listening experience without any doubt. To get an idea of what the album sounds like, I will briefly discuss the songs. Go-Kart, the song about a go-kart built by Mark's father back in England, is a nice mix between jazz-rock fusion and jazzy funk. Across The Ocean has a rhythms and arrangements which are clearly inspired by sixties pop music and has Phil Spector kind of soundscape. One Small Step comes across as a smooth soul number. Running Away and The Perfect Day are very soulful, with a kind of jazz feeling. That First Kiss and Love Becomes Mechanical moves towards soulful, dark electronic pop. Reality Breakthrough goes musically in the direction of smooth jazz. The Moment is a kind of soul-jazz-pop enriched with elements of traditional music from Thailand. It Is What It Is is a soulful ballad. Show Me How To Love (first single) is jazzier with again traditional music from Thailand. Beginnings and Friends move more towards progressive rock. But the overall feeling is that the entire album has a rather laidback and mellow feeling music wise. Nowhere does it really go up tempo. It is easy to conclude that Journeys Groove - An Adventure In Life is an entertaining and musically diverse album. Mixing several musical styles. From pop to soul. From jazz to groove. And from funk to world music. And yes, a little bit of progressive rock too, but not much. It is an album full of memories, nostalgia, regret and hope sung with emotion by Mark with all of his characteristic timbre and vocal skills. Not real prog but no less beautiful! We should really thank Mark for baring his soul to everyone. He opened up so vulnerable. It's easy to judge him for that. But the opposite is true. Everyone appreciates what he shows and hears in this way. Perhaps not always in the musical way we'd expect from him. But that's also why it became a solo album where he could decide for himself what was and wasn't acceptable. He didn't care about anyone because he alone decided what you all get to hear! And that's certainly not bad at all. Therefore, I can only say: "Well done, Mark. We're all proud of you." **** Henri Strik (edited by Dave Smith) Where to buy? |
