A Suite of Gods

by Mike DeGagneOnce again expanding his creative range, Rick Wakeman employs the tenor voice of Ramon Remedios to aid in rehashing the myths of Roman and Greek mythology behind a mixture of classical, modern, and new age instrumental accompaniment. Deemed interesting for the forceful vocal carriage of Remedios as well as Wakeman's keyboard playing, the album's seven tracks uniquely describe such legends as Pandora's Box and the voyage of Ulysses with a tasteful, operatic air. Wakeman's use of the Korg synthesizer throughout the album inoculates the pieces with vibrant color without saturating them in the technological sound of the electric keyboard. Both producer John Burns and Wakeman himself do a splendid job of keeping the album in the context of it's mythological atmosphere, especially during "Hercules," where the might of the ancient hero is illustrated profoundly in both words and music. Sporting a new age sound rather than a progressive one, A Suite of Gods is one of Rick Wakeman's more diverse attempts at this form of music. Anyone interested in his refined style of keyboard playing will easily attach themselves to this album.