THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(12-TRACKS)
1-COMING INTO VIEW I:DISCOVERING NEW SURROUNDINGS
2-CHOSEN
3-FULL BUT LONELY
4-LEAVING MY SEAT AT THE TABLE
5-TRICKLE DOWN
6-COMING INTO VIEW II:INCIRCLING ARMS OF THE FATHER
7-SEE WHAT HE SEES
8-ORPHAN FOUND
9-PARTS AS ONE
10-PAUPER'S UNFULFILLED
11-COMING INTO VIEW III:GAZING DOWN GOLDEN STREETS
12-WONDROUS LOVE(OUTRO)
CREDITS:Studio musicians:
Shane Lankford -Vocals
John Wegner -Vocals
Chris Maggitti- Guitar
Nathan Grant -Drums
Cindy King -Violin
Jason Chaillou -Bass
Colin McGough -Bass
Ben Hardesty -Cello.
ORPHAN PROJECT-ORPHAN PROJEXT II-2008
THIS DEMO EP CONTAIN(4-TRACKS)
1-ANGELS DESIRE
2-MY GOODNESS
3-ANOTHER BRICK ON THE WALL PART II:
4-AMPTY ME
CREDITS:Band Members.
Shane Lankford - Vocals
Tim Kehring - Drums, Vocals
Bill Yost - Bass, Vocals
Scott Spivey - Lead & Rhythm Guitars, Vocals .
Making Orphan Found a concept album of sorts, played by a number of guest musicians, the pieces are loosely connected to one theme, the story of an orphan. Shane Lankford, himself an orphan, was adopted by a loving family, but wondered where he really belongs and in whom he could find his identity. In the end, he realized his life is in the hands of his Heavenly Father, and that his restless heart may find rest in Him. The songs on this album reflect episodes of that search, sometimes in terms of biblical images like the prodigal son and the New Jerusalem. The personal quest, however, is at the same time an accessible experience to a broader audience. Orphan Project dub their music "hard prog". It is indeed "progressive" in the sense that it goes beyond the borders of ordinary rock, using different instruments and song structures. And it is indeed hard in the sense that Orphan Project borrow powerful vocals and guitars-with-distortion-wide-open from our tougher musical neighbours. Somewhere between Under the Sun and Threshold, I'd say, Orphan Project show very capable musicianship and writing. Not without reason Lankford and Wenger Credit American 'hair
Bands' (Journey, Kansas/Livgren, Petra) and well known prog giants (Yes/Rabin, Genesis/Gabriel) for inspiration. One could safely add Gilmour and Hackett. On the more technical side (and then I'll get on with the songs themselves), the production and the mix really stand out, especially for a debut album. Someone there knew what he wanted to record for each song. There is diversity and transparency in sounds, effects and instruments (for instance such that drums are mixed to the fore when they deserve it and Wengers guitar pops out when it is played with balls). Also, Shane's seasoned voice gets all the space it needs. With some great vocal melodies, hooking choruses, and a range of nuances, he voices the lyrics very effectively. Let me just say that if you like Neal Morse's Testimony, you'll love this one as well. The album begins with a great opener, because it already has everything that makes the whole cd attractive. Coming Into View: Discovering New Surroundings starts off with an intro featuring acoustic guitar and keyboard backdrop before the dual lead guitar and drums kick in, leading to a memorable chorus. Quite fittingly the song is about birth. Chosen, secondly, is about a kid in an orphanage waiting for adoptive parents. It changes mood completely to almost folky, with acoustic guitar, prominent snare drum, violin (!) and harmonizing vocals. The decision to use strings (violin and cello) is courageous, especially for a debut album in the harder regions of prog, but OP pull it off. The next scene in the orphan's childhood is a up-tempo song, called Full But Lonely, with tasteful keys and pushed forward by a rocking guitar riff. It describes a longing for more than material well-being. The same holds for Leaving My Seat At The Table, which goes full throttle with a great chorus and with an almost haunting violin and piano. Orphan Found then continues in a somewhat quieter pace, with a song that seems to have references to Peter Gabriel. This song, Trickle Down, is about despair and could have been on Us, although it ends like Family Snapshot. Again, Wenger manages to get a good guitar solo. Also in a quieter vein, but building up tension to a contagious chorus, is Coming Into View II: Encircling Arms Of The Father in which the orphan in the story embraces the love of his Heavenly Father, in a spiritual rebirth, like the prodigal son in the biblical parable. This song, which opens with Floydian guitar, serves as a sort of bridge to the highlight of the album, the following two pieces. See What He Sees is one of the most heartrending ballads I've heard in a long time on a prog album. Introduced by cello and accompanied by piano, Lankford sings his heart out. The other part of the centerpiece of the album is Orphan Found, the title track. It picks up the hard rock pace of Full But Lonely and Leaving My Seat... again, with great guitar riffs, powerful chorus, quiet interlude with violin, a Genesis-like change of pace, and a guitar solo with chops. This material will probably translate very well to live concerts. So far, the album has been able to hold the listener's attention with ease, also after repeated listening. And just like a good progressive rock album should, Orphan Found ends with a majestically sweeping finale, Coming Into View III: Looking Down On Golden Streets plus its outro Woundrous Love. Unfortunately, however, between the centerpiece and the finale, the album features one tracks and a half with too little of 'it'. Parts As One is a pretty straightforward mid-tempo rock song. Perhaps an album like this needs such a song as a point where the whole thing can come to rest for a moment, perhaps also when played live. But as far as progressive rock goes, it has too little to offer to me. The same goes for the first half of Paupers Unfulfilled. It is also mid-tempo, with U2-like licks, but it also seems to lack that 'umph' that makes both the restful and the restless songs on the album work. The second half has more power, however, and makes up for the initial faintness. If it is indeed a little drama that these songs are lacking, drama fortunately abounds in the finale, ...Golden Streets. It is lyrically about our orphan dying, but set in a hopeful tone, with sounds of sea waves, choir, and tubular bells. You get the picture. (Speaking of pictures, the cd comes in a case with delightful artwork, based on very un-prog tinted black and white photographs. Perhaps only the lettering leaves something to be desired.) Orphan Project II is slightly progressive, very melodic and with lots of hooks. The best track is Angels Desire which is very catchy and will stay stuck in your head for ages. Another Brick In The Wall is better than the original (in my opinion) and the whole album is just heavy hard rock hooks! Great stuff.. http://www.myspace.com/orphanproject.
Vous connaissez tous le format EP. Ce petit CD qui ne paye pas de mine et qui renferme en général juste ce qu'il faut pour présenter un groupe ou nous faire découvrir quelques morceaux qui n'ont pas trouvé leur place sur leur discographie officielle. Cet objet que l'on met distraitement dans le lecteur en fond sonore avant d'aller faire la vaisselle ou consulter ses mails du jour. Cet objet qu'on note avec bienveillance parce qu'après tout, l'effort d'essayer de nous offrir 20 minutes de plaisir est toujours meilleur que de ne rien offrir du tout.Sauf qu'avec Orphan Project, je suis resté assis. Au bout de 20 minutes, je ne retenais qu'une chose : cet EP renferme la reprise la plus hallucinante qu'il m'ait été donné d'entendre. Et ces ricains se sont attaqués à un certain "Another Brick In The Wall". Il fallait oser et je pense qu'ils n'ont pas fini de se prendre des réflexions désobligeantes par les puristes pour ce qu'ils en ont fait. Mais je ne suis pas un puriste, loin s'en faut, et je crie haut et fort que rien que pour cette reprise, les rockeux de chez MW doivent se procurer cette pépite.Je vous le garantis : vous n'allez pas décrocher pendant plusieurs jours et, au bout de ces longues journées, vous vous intéresserez enfin aux trois autres morceaux et serez obligés de constater qu'on a là un groupe très prometteur dans son style.Mais la question est avant tout : qu'est-ce qu 'Orphan Project ?Il s'agit d'un groupe de quatre américains qui font du gros rock d'américain au sens premier du terme. Des guitares bien grasses et lourdes, du vrai riff bien lourd et travaillé, un clavier en soutien et une bonne voix bien virile, le tout soutenu par une section rythmique qui fait bien bouger les cheveux.Il en ressort que les trois morceaux "Angels Desire", "My Goodness" et "Empty Me" font dans la constance avec une construction rock tendant vers la FM, immédiatement accessible mais imaginative quand même. Et comme on dit dans le milieu des salles de répét' : ça joue !Les 4 gars nous servent donc leurs compositions qu'ils ont certainement peaufinées durant plusieurs semaines dans le studio de l'un d'entre eux, voire dans leur garage, avant d'entrer en studio pour nous pondre un EP très bien léché.Et je me prends à les imaginer en train de se dire qu'il faudrait trouver un truc qui les démarque des productions habituelles et qui, en plus, leur permette de mettre le feu en fin de concert.J'en vois aisément un en train de lancer timidement l'idée saugrenue : "et si on reprenait un truc connu, genre Another Brick In The Wall ?". Tout le monde se marre et finit par essayer, pour rigoler. Sauf que la sauce prend et qu'on tourne autour de ça.Et le guitariste y va de ses modulations et transforme la ligne de guitare en un riff de tueur.Et le batteur imprime un beat sur lequel le bassiste et le clavier se raccrochent rapidement, y allant chacun de leur petit solo.Puis, sous les yeux ébahis de tout le groupe, le guitariste se souvient qu'il aimait bien les compositions latinos et se lance dans un break auquel le batteur n'arrivera à mettre fin que par un solo bien senti et permettant de revenir à un propos vraiment rock.Je vous le redis : je suis sorti de cet album le sourire aux lèvres, comme un gamin heureux d'avoir constaté qu'on pouvait oser des trucs juste pour se faire plaisir, sans se soucier de choquer.Allez-y, c'est du tout bon. Et s'ils jouent comme ça en concert, je veux être là(http://www.holymetalrob.com/)
