Prog rock at a cosmic scale: Rick Wakeman's The Red Planet

The so far rather surreal 2020 can bring some epic delights, too - and it seems one of them is the new studio album by the keyboard legend Rick Wakeman and his band,  The English Rock Ensemble.

One never knows what might be released by this veritable institution of progressive rock, as Wakeman has amply demonstrated his ability to travel effortlessly across many genres and styles. Over the thankfully many years of his compositional and keyboard wizardry, we have heard everything from vast choral-symphonic epics to energetic instrumental rock to solo piano gems to tranquil, even ethereal,  soundscapes.

This album's music is quintessential Wakeman, of the kind we haven't heard for some years. Every  phrasing, every ornamenting of the lead lines on the keyboard, the gear changes, the epic, even majestic, passages, the juxtaposition of very different musical layers that all work together splendidly in true Yes manner... 

Whether one arrives at this album with novice ears & eyes, without any exposure to Rick Wakeman's monumental discography, or as an avid prog-rock fan with shelves bending under the weight of his and other prog luminaries' albums... either way The Red Planet will highly probably prove to be a thoroughly satisfying listening experience.

Wakeman's landmark concept albums always had majestic overtures, the very first chords and musical phrases inevitably grabbing the listeners' attention - as the great Italian Baroque composers have done. Unlike some of the latter, Wakeman always knew how to continue in captivating ways... 

The opening track, Ascraeus Mons is an overture that is worthy successor of those fondly remembered Wakeman albums' grand openings. Imposing organ chords are quickly followed by splendidly fluid synth lead motif, with the usual (and expected) virtuosity set the scene for the album - but we are treated to a through-and-through rock guitar solo, too. 

Tharsis Tholus gives the listener a chance to have an initial repose, before we have sudden changes of gear, direction, and even tonality in true Yes fashion... and then fast-paced, typically ornamented organ and Moog melodies come in. Wakeman really, truly, rocks off with his inimitable Moog solo. The freshness of the music is remarkable, so is the almost superhuman keyboard skill that almost absurdly hasn't been affected by the passing of many decades... 

Arsia Mons keeps the energy levels high, opening with an abrasive and spirited riff, punctuated by epic drumming... before it suddenly gives way to an atmospheric passage of quasi-poetic beauty. The phased synth background with the gentle layers of notes on top of it make it quite dreamy, before the energy  return with intertwined drums, keyboards, guitars flying off again. Another quiet passage brings the guitar to the forefront, with organs just gently underpinning it until the phased synth pads arrive again for a dreamy finale... making the whole track float off into some kind of cosmic tranquility...

Olympus Mons shifts gear again, we jump from introspective dreamy sound waves to fast fingers running up and down on the organ keyboard, chasing the fiery drums, with guitars speedily circling around the central musical motifs... This then transitions to a majestic organ-heavy chorus of an almost anthem-like feel, followed by a super-tight good and proper rock affair, with riffs and a synth lead that are utterly impossible not to do some head-bobbing to. 

The North Plain moves us into the realm of mysterious ambiental layers of sounds, tiny musical motifs hovering in the sonci textures conjured by Wakeman... until it transitions into another eminently head-bobbing passage... Catchy and tight riffs provide the structure for an organ solo that just brings the ceiling down even before that, oh yes, that Moog sound returns for a fiery solo. As in previous tracks, we rapidly switch gears - we are suddenly back in an eerie and almost spooky soundworld, until the Hammond organ again throws us into a world of motion and light.

Pavonis Mons is again a highly animated and animating track, with a precise riff preparing the scene for those Mellotron strings and Moog leads that enchant any Wakeman fan. The melodic content is, once again, extremely catchy - with improvised ornamentations that are instanty recognisable in style. The instrumental arrangements show that no sonic colouring is out of bounds, as in the middle of a high-flying rock discourse we have piano, too having a heck of a dialogue with the Moog. 

South Pole fades in with a wash of sounds, giving way to yet another captivating melody that glides effortlessly above layers of synth sounds and laid-back drumming. It has just the right tempo and choice of softer synth sounds to make it a dreamy, yet purposefully flowing track. The synths give way to a solo piano passage of superb and delicate beauty, which feels like a calm sonic oasis... before the track builds up, lifting us again with the synth rich pads and catchy lead motifs.

Valles Marineris opens with a menacing military march-like rhythmic pattern, as the god of war deserves in a way...  The guitar and percussion take centre stage initially, with synths providing a circular melodic thread that carries the whole structure forward. This track, too manages to build up effortlessly into anthem-like passages, and one could be completel forgiven for finding oneself whistling along, too... After trumpets, fiery Moog, and thundering drums, the rich arrangements allow the piano to shine again, before the catchy melody returns with a flute-like synth lead. The structural thinking is again evident, as the track is as perfect ending to the album as perfect grand opening the first track was.

It is a highly cohesive and structurally admirably constructed album, with a consistent quality throughout. The eight tracks combine into what some of the best of concept albums are known for: an adventurous musical journey through many moods and mental images, during which the tracks feel inseparable from each other. 

In a world of sound snippets and random playlist shuffling, The Red Planet definitely stands apart and works best as a whole - as an album. 

A master of the keyboards - Rick Wakeman at 70

Rick Wakeman, one of the most prominent rock legends and keyboard virtuosi, has turned 70 on 18 May.

At a young age having become known as a formally trained keyboard wizard in the progressive rock band Yes, he moved on to a hugely productive solo career, too.

Something that is absolutely essential to stress in Wakeman's case, when comparing him to other keyboard giants of the era, is that his phenomenal command of music theory and technical abilities were never self-serving and purely for show.

It is rare to have a keyboardist with vast imagination rendering vast orchestral and choral arrangements seemingly effortlessly, coupled with stunning technical ability - and still, not to have the musician venture into empty bravado just to show off his skills.

Apart from his classics like The Six Wives Of Henry VIII and the epic Journey To The Centre Of The Earth, some of his maybe lesser known concept albums like Criminal Record can demonstrate his ability to imagine huge instrumental pieces, with towering complexity but also with great expressivity - and making them seem effortless. One such track is Judas Iscariot from aforementioned album...

Whilst in the UK, especially with the arrival of punk, a lot of the excesses and visuals of the prog rock bands have gone through much ridicule, some of us had the fortune of accessing such music, very much including Rick Wakeman's monumental compositions via just the music alone.

Often the original album was not even available in certain Easter Bloc regimes that suppressed such music. Concert footage with capes and wizard outfits and knights ice skating on vast stage sets were absolutely impossible to get hold of.

Thus, one can never forget how 'accessing' such music through just the music, often via some third-hand cassette copy in the 1970s and 1980s of Communist dictatorships, was a life-changing experience.

The huge mistake in pigeonholing such music as 'prog rock excess' is that, obscured by the visual excesses of the era, the actual music is not analysed for what it actually is.

The musicianship of those bands, and that of Rick Wakeman, is still a lesson to myriad aspiring and competent, even successful, musicians today.

Sure, as he wrote in his inimitable style in his autobiographical Say Yes, there have been many hilarious stories and escapades both on and behind the stage...

Whilst he is renowned for the epic scale compositions, and the superhuman keyboard performances delivered with breathtaking technique, Rick Wakeman has often changed direction and could surprise fans with music that would never have been thought as something that emanated from his studio.

Such example is the absolute tranquility and subtlety of something like his Sun Trilogy, with the opening track of the first album below.

He often turned to solo piano, too, and leaving aside the many stacks of many synthesizers, could compose and perform exquisite gems of piano pieces, like the following from his album Night Airs.

His creative appetite and even his touring efforts have not stopped, still very active in both the studio and on stage.

Many happy birthdays, and continued inspiration for the future!