by Alexandra Mrozowska
– Sr. Columnist —
In the world of copycats and continuous recycling of old, worn-out ideas, the albums which capture and hold the audience’s attention are those which dare to go beyond the established scheme. And that is exactly what Darrel Treece-Birch does on his new album No More Time, released via Melodic Revolution Records. Although it is probably the British Melodic Rock band Ten that this keyboard player is the most known from, he’s also been a part of the Progressive Rock ensemble Nth Ascension and a Rush tribute band for quite a while. Consequently, his fifth solo album blends all those influences into a varied, multilayered musical entity.
What one can find on No More Time is rich musical content driven by a certain amount of keyboard wizardry and built around very complex arrangements which surely have some recognizability Progressive flavor to them. Some tracks on the album are embroidered with vocals, including “Hold On”, “Twilight” or “Music Of The Spheres”. Other remain instrumental, the sound telling the story instead in its own ever-expanding and elaborate language. The material goes well beyond the framework of the three-part suite “Nexus (Part 1, 2 and 3)”, each track crafted so as to exist on its own as well as form a part of a bigger picture.
The keyword to the total number of fifteen songs that comprise No More Time is diversity. There are surprisingly many tints and tones to this album, from the powerful uptempo pieces echoing Treece-Birch’s Melodic Rock influence and his tenure in Ten (“Earthbound”, “Riding The Waves”, “No More Time”) to the generous slice of balladesque delicateness (“Requiem Pro Caris”, “Mother (Olive’s Song)”, “Twilight”) and grandiosity (“Legacy”, “The River Dream”). The surprisingly heavy, guitar-laden “Freedom Paradigm” comes in between, blending together Metal heaviness with electronic and slightly Zeppelin-esque flavors. Extramusical sounds frequent on the album, such as the sough of the sea, complete the vivid musical mixture of captivating melodies and Progressive elements.
No More Time is Darrel Treece-Birch’s solo work in the strict sense of the word, as the English musician played a whole variety of instruments including keyboards, bass guitar, mandolin, and drums as well as sung on the album. However, the inclusion of the special guests – including Ten, Gary Hughes Band and Nth Ascension members, current and former – only adds richness to the final outcome of the recording. Lush, melodic and perfected down to the finest detail, No More Time is surely one of the best albums to come out this year. Highly recommended!
Genre: Melodic Progressive Rock
Band:
Darrel Treece-Birch – Keyboards, Vocals, Bass Guitars, Mandolin, Drums
Special Guests:
Phil Brown – Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar
Steve Grocott – Electric Guitar
Karen Fell – Vocals
Dan Mitchell – Electric Guitar
John Power – Bass and Fretless Bass Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, & Violin
Dann Rosingana – Electric Guitar
Alan Taylor – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar
Gavin Walker – Bass Guitar
Martin Walker – Electric Guitar
Tracklist:
1. Nexus Pt. 1
2. Earthbound
3. Riding the Waves
4. Hold On
5. Requiem Pro Caris
6. Nexus Pt. 2
7. Twilight
8. Mother (Olive’s Song)
9. Freedom Paradigm
10. Nexus Pt. 3
11. The River Dream
12. No More Time
13. Legacy
14. Music of the Spheres
15. Return to the Nexus
Label: Melodic Revolution Records
Website: http://www.darreltreece-birch.com – https://www.facebook.com/Darrel-Treece-Birch-Music-230534983737934
Hardrock Haven rating: 9/10
