Release Date: May 12, 2016
Label: Independent
Brian
Johnstone has a body of work behind him but this release is a solo effort. Consent Under Construction is 10 tracks
with tracks 6-10 consisting of two part opuses.
Johnstone has created his own path with this recording.
This is a true solo effort with no frills and some good progressive rock.
I love the album’s title. It’s always a good thing to have Consent Under Coercion. One listen is
enough to convince you to turn it up and listen closely.
“Ujezd Tarantella (Taste The Fear)” is one of the best
tracks. Johnstone uses all his weapons to have one of his finest moments. The
track is like a soundtrack to a movie (like a classic thriller such as Psycho or The Birds). It’s sensationally terrifying with mood swings and
music to match. Great guitar lines and mind melting keyboards lead the way as
the artist sings, feels and lives the part. You can hear the sincerity in his
voice as the music echoes his sentiments. This is musical theater at its very
best.
“The
Course of Empire: Children of the Stars” kicks off the suite of tracks that
tells a story. It is like opening a book and you start reading and can’t’ put
it down. It is an upbeat and powerful way to start the second half of the
album. As the door swings open you gladly walk through trusting the music will
take you down the right road. The story continues as the placement of guitars
and keyboards are just right ushering in the empire and its offspring.
Brian Johnstone is quite a talent. Perhaps it’s time to
consider making this a book or screenplay with this album as the soundtrack
with a full-blown orchestra as an add on? Then it would be Wakeman like! Of
course, it’s nice to dream and ponder the possibilities, isn’t it? In any case
this music can stand on its own as a singular project that showcases one clever
artist and his abilities to create a storyline with some great music to
entertain you as it all develops.
4/5
Stars
Key Tracks: Ujezd Tarantella (Taste The Fear), The
Course of Empire: Children of the Stars
Tracks:
01.Ujezd Tarantella (Taste The Fear)
02.Caraly
03.Crammed In
04.Lumang
05.Precious Dreamer 05:12
06.The Course of Empire: 1 Children of the Stars
07.The Course of Empire: 2 First Renaissance
08.The Course of Empire: 3 The Greater Good
09.The Course of Empire: 4 Scourge of Humanity
10.The Course of Empire: 5 The Greatest Tragedy
Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck
November 10, 2016
Founder of:
Review
Provided By Prog Rock Music Talk