Derek Sherinian's goal when he created Planet X was to record
the sickest instrumental music in the universe. I am here to tell
you that he has succeeded. Instrumental music is at times difficult
to explain with mere words. Prog-Rock instrumental is challenging
to say the least when attempting to convey all the feelings you think
an artist is revealing or hiding in the music. As much as I have difficulty
at times expressing all of my feelings in words via the music, it
remains an ever-growing blossoming experience that I enjoy more and more as time passes.
"Moonbabies" is the latest in a series of authoritative keyboard driven
testaments from Mr. Sherinian and friends. You get 10 tracks of unbridled,
at times inhuman wizardry, of the keyboards, guitar, bass, and drums.
You may never hear every little nuance that is going on with this
CD no matter how acute your listening is. I do not care how many times
you listen to it, you will inevitable discover some new tweak, angle,
or melody that you did not hear before. I have made the comparison
of prog-rock to jazz many times, and for good reason. This is very
busy music, and hence not the easiest to interpret or understand.
Yet, I remain unwavering to the challenges it presents and I enjoy
every damned second of it. I am therefore as sick as the music, and proud of it I may add.
This is yet another towering achievement by Derek and his band. This
great music will carry a lot of weight for years to come no doubt.
If you really get off on heavy instrumental keyboard music, you will
appreciate this disc. Another jewel of prog-rock awaits your vociferous consumption.
1. Moonbabies (Donati/Sherinian) - 5:39
2. The Noble Savage (Donati/MacAlpine/Sherinian) - 6:14
3. Ataraxia (Donati) - 6:17
4. 70 Vir (Donati/MacAlpine) - 4:02
5. Micronesia (Donati) - 5:56
6. Interlude in Milan (Donati) - 4:40
7. Digital Vertigo (Donati/Macalpine/Sherinian) - 4:25
8. Ground Zero (Donati) - 6:03
9. Midnight Bell (Donati) - 3:56
10. Ignotus Per Ignotium (Donati) - 9:28
Credits:
Simon Phillips - Producer, Engineer, Mixing
Billy Sheehan - Bass
Virgil Donati - Drums
Tom Kennedy - Bass
Tony MacAlpine - Guitar
Derek Sherinian - Keyboards
