In the history of popular music, supergroups have a spotty track record. For every winner, the landscape is littered with many more typically short-lived projects of varying degrees of quality and success. Arguably, they are weighed down by their egos, pedigree, and the high, and often unrealistic, expectations of absolute perfection -- every album must be an utter masterpiece. But it usually doesn't worked out that way. Progressive rock in particular is rather notorious for its attempts at supergroups.
Emerson Lake & Palmer
rightfully took off, and the original
Asia
justifiably burned brightly for a short time, but others like
GTR
and
Anderson
,
Bruford
Wakeman
, and
Howe
(four-fifths of
Yes
' classic
Fragile
lineup) fizzled after one wildly uneven (at best) album. With that in mind, it's certainly heartening to hear 2012's excellent
A Life Within a Day
by
Squackett
, the project from
bass guitarist
Chris Squire
and former
Genesis
guitarist
Steve Hackett
.
leans toward highly melodic pop-flavored sounds but with plenty of the intricate twists and turns and occasional heaviness expected of progressive rock musicians. The liner notes cite the obvious
influences, as well as that of
Led Zeppelin
the Beatles
. This music also radiates the sophisticated dreaminess of the
Alan Parsons Project
Squire
Hackett
share vocals, often with lots of harmonies;
's harmony backing vocals are a crucial but rarely acknowledged component of the
sound. Producer/keyboardist
Roger King
(a longtime member of
's solo band), drummer
Jeremy Stacey
, and backing vocalist
Amanda Lehmann
round out the core of the
band. The ever-changing arrangement of the dramatic and engaging opener "A Life Within a Day" gives the listener a taste of things to come. The hypnotic "Tall Ships," which originated as
was trying out a new bass guitar, gives
the opportunity to stretch out on both classical and electric guitar runs. "Aliens" is a smoothly flowing hybrid of progressive rock and pop. A quirky arrangement drives "Sea of Smiles," but the catchy chorus and
's brightly distorted guitar tie it all together. The outstanding "Stormchaser" -- definitely the most
-influenced song on the album -- hammers home a steady midtempo rumble with rigid guitar riffs and ghostly keyboards. The ethereal "Can't Stop the Rain" is highlighted by
Lehmann
's backing vocals. As indispensable members of the mightiest titanic groups in progressive rock, expectations were bound to be high; simply put,
's
exceeds expectations and is a worthy addition to the legacies of
. ~ Bret Adams