The D Project - "Big Face" Review

Artist/ Band: The D Project
Title: Big Face
Label: Zeta Productions
Year of Release: 2011
Offical Artist/ Band Link

The Review:

The D Project from Canada have a very clean crisp sound on this, their third semi epic progressive rock release. It starts off with a tasteful Pink Floyd sounding song called ‘They”. Even the vocals have a Dave Gilmour quality. I hear several various influences throughout Big Face. A big draw to both fans and newcomers will be the fact of Tony Levin (stick and bass master with Peter Gabriel, King Crimson and too many other sessions to list) playing on that opening cut. The main band consists of Stephane Desbiens (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Mathieu Gosselin (bass , Stick) and Jean Gosselin (drums). They have several other guest musicians besides Tony Levin, which includes keyboard wizard Lalle Larsson on that last track. It’s a nice line up of talent. Although there is some songs in the pop mold which could probably be on radio ( Track 2 “So Low” and Track 3 “Anger I & II ) which actually have a AOR sound, the music doesn’t get too far from the Pink Floyd influence at any given time. It has some very easy on the ears tunes that you just have to enjoy sometimes. I don’t always want the colossal complexity of some things in my collection, so if you like the later days of Floyd, then you just might enjoy Big Face as well. I also hear similarities to many neo prog bands like Pendragon and Transatlantic in the minutes of the music presented here.

It’s on the title cut (Track 4 “Big Face”) that they crank up the mellotron and go into a more Camel/Pink Floyd direction which is a big pay off. It’s a killer track that is worth the price of the CD alone. It makes you take notice with a big kick to the seat of your trousers. And it’s 7 mins 47 seconds long, with a very nice bridge of piano before kicking into yet another gear at the end. I love the strings and organ at the very end of the song.

The next song (track 5 “Anger III”) goes back into the AOR genre but mixes it with a Yes progressive sound. No matter how you slice it, the songs still does have some stadium rock appeal. It’s not quite disguised enough. I don’t hold it against them, as it’s the sound they have chosen to bring together, and I repeat, I actually enjoy a break from the more cerebral progressive music once in awhile (not too often now or my brain might get all soft *l*). I’d have to say there is a moment on track 7 (“ Macondo”) where I swear I hear Joe Cocker (With A Little Help From My Friends) ) but the song has a great vibe and ends like a classic progressive song. It’s followed with another Yes-like song (trk 8 “Conspiracy”) with intro of classical guitar (Steve Howe style) with beautiful keyboard pads. That gives way to a kick up of energy still like Yes (At their best) and I have to give a giant applause as it has the most complex and technical riff of the entire CD. It’s pure adrenaline and magic! LOVE IT!!! And what a last song! Starts with the gorgeous vocals of Claire Vezina, which work wonderfully throughout, and give that soft cloud to land on.

It’s obvious that this is a somewhat commercial progressive rock work. Although many don’t acknowledge it, or realize it, much of the classic rock of our time has often treaded on progressive turf, and the genres sometimes get mixed. If bands like Pink Floyd, ELP, Yes, Genesis, Jethro Tull (I could go on and on) had not delved into the possible commercial hit realm at some time or another, I would bet thousands of people would have never heard them at all. Fact is, progressive rock influenced commercial pop and rock and I think The Project D takes this whole world of music and brings much of it together. It depends on your taste as to whether this is a good or bad thing. I enjoyed this CD and 2 cuts really stood out. For my money, it’s a good one!

Reviewed by Lee Henderson on April 26th, 2011

Tracks:

01. They

02. So Low

03. Anger I & II

04. Big Face

05. Anger III

06. Don't Tell The Kids

07. Macondo

08. Conspiracy

09. Poussiere De Lumiere