FabricationsHQ - Putting the Words to the Music
  • Muirsical Thoughts, Muirsical News Last update: March 2nd
  • Latest Articles (links)
  • Todd Rundgren - Clearly Human Virtual Tour, "Pittsburgh"
  • Mason Hill - Against The Wall
  • Lyle Workman - Uncommon Measures
  • Robert Berry - 3.2 : Third Impression
  • Jason Bieler (February 2021)
  • Dan Reed (February 2021)
  • Writing the Wrongs... 2020 in Review
  • Featured Album Reviews
    • Lifesigns - Altitude
    • Jason Bieler and The Baron Von Bielski Orchestra - Songs For The Apocalypse
    • 2020 Featured Album Reviews >
      • McCartney III
      • Gary Barlow - Music Played By Humans
      • Storm Warning - Different Horizons
      • Reb Beach - A View From The Inside
      • Lykantropi - Tales To Be Told
      • King King - Maverick
      • Jakko M Jakszyk - Secrets & Lies
      • Blue Öyster Cult - The Symbol Remains
      • Fish - Weltschmerz
      • Dyble Longdon - Between A Breath And A Breath
      • Jim Kirkpatrick - Ballad of a Prodigal Son
      • Abel Ganz - The Life of the Honey Bee & Other Moments of Clarity
      • Toby and the Whole Truth - Ignorance is Bliss (25th Anniversary Edition)
      • Everyday Heroes - A Tale of Sin & Sorrow
      • Skintrade - The Show Must Go On
      • Robert Jon & The Wreck - Last Light on the Highway
      • Pat Metheny - From This Place
      • Anchor Lane - Casino
    • 2019 Featured Album Reviews >
      • Fat-Suit - Waifs & Strays
      • Wayward Sons - The Truth Ain't What it Used to Be
      • Flying Colors - Third Degree
      • Steve Hackett - Genesis Revisited Band & Orchestra: Live
      • Burnt Out Wreck - This is Hell
      • Runrig - The Last Dance
      • Scarlet Rebels - Show Your Colours
      • The Blind Lemon Gators - Gatorville
      • Bruce Springsteen - Western Stars
      • Sweet Oblivion Feat. Geoff Tate
      • Rebecca Downes - More Sinner Than Saint
      • Stray - Mudanzas
      • Snarky Puppy - Immigrance
      • Aaron Buchanan And The Cult Classics - The Man With Stars On His Knees
    • 2018 Featured Album Reviews >
      • Simon Thacker's Svara-Kanti - Trikala
      • Jason Becker - Triumphant Hearts
      • Duncan Chisholm - Sandwood
      • Jawbone - Jawbone
      • Steve Perry - Traces
      • Sari Schorr - Never Say Never
      • Joe Bonamassa - Redemption
      • Ben Poole - Anytime You Need Me
      • Hawkwind - Road To Utopia
      • Rainbreakers - Face To Face
      • Frequency Drift - Letters to Maro
      • JCM - Heroes
      • Dana Fuchs - Love Lives On
      • Joe Bonamassa - British Blues Explosion Live
      • W.E.T. - Earthrage
      • The King Lot - A World Without Evil
  • Monthly Album Reviews...
    • 2021 Reviews
    • 2020 Reviews
    • 2019 Reviews
    • 2018 Reviews
  • Selected 2020 Gig Reviews...
    • Jared James Nichols - Garage G2, Glasgow
    • Oscar Cordoba Band - Blue Arrow, Glasgow
    • Rebecca Downes Band - The Ice Box, Glasgow
    • Ben Poole Trio - Room 2, Glasgow
    • Sensational Alex Harvey Experience - DreadnoughtRock, Bathgate
    • The Aristocrats - Liquid Rooms, Edinburgh
    • Fat Suit - Drygate, Glasgow
    • Francis Dunnery's It Bites - St Lukes, Glasgow
  • Selected 2019 Gig Reviews...
    • WinterStorm Rock Weekender IV - Troon
    • Hawkwind - 02 Academy, Glasgow
    • Opeth - SWG3 Galvanizers, Glasgow
    • Félix Rabin - Nice 'N' Sleazy Glasgow
    • Anchor Lane - G2, Glasgow
    • Stray - Backstage at the Green, Kinross
    • Danny Bryant - Backstage at the Green, Kinross
    • Talon - Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow
    • Lifesigns - Smiles of Musical Travel
    • A Whole Lotta Rock 3 - featuring Rattlesnake Tattoo, Prestwick
    • Chantel McGregor - Hard Rock Cafe Glasgow
    • Pete Way Band - Customs House Hotel, Greenock
    • Raintown and Katee Kross - Village Theatre, East Kilbride
    • Danny Vaughn - DreadnoughtRock, Bathgate
    • NR Rocks 2019 - DreadnoughtRock, Bathgate
    • Arran Rock 'N' Blues Fest 2019
    • Cheap Trick - 02 Academy, Glasgow
    • The Blind Lemon Gators - Tolboth, Stirling
    • Midnight Oil - 02 Brixton Academy, London
    • Ana Popovic - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • Joe Bonamassa - SEC Armadillo, Glasgow
    • Eden's Curse - The Garage G2, Glasgow
    • Félix Rabin - Nice N Sleazy, Glasgow
    • Her Way to Hell - DreadnoughtRock, Bathgate
    • The Quireboys and FM - The Garage, Glasgow
    • Erja Lyytinen - Backstage at the Green, Kinross
    • Wille & The Bandits - Hug & Pint, Glasgow
    • Sari Schorr - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • Frankie Miller's Full House - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • A Whole Lotta Rock 2 featuring Brian Downey's Alive and Dangerous, Prestwick
    • John Verity Band - Borders Blues Club, Innerleithen
    • King King (with Sari Schorr) - 02 Academy, Glasgow
    • Burnt Out Wreck (with Scarlet Rebels) - Hard Rock Cafe, Glasgow
    • Buckcherry / Hoobastank / Adelita's Way - SWG3 Glasgow
  • Muirsical Conversations...
    • Steve Hackett (January 2021)
    • John Verity (September 2020)
    • Steve Hackett (July 2020)
    • Gary Moat (March 2020)
    • Steve Hackett (October 2019)
    • Rebecca Downes (May 2019)
    • Ben Poole & Wayne Proctor (January 2019)
    • Dan Reed (November 2018)
    • Del Bromham (October 2018)
    • Brian Downey (September 2018)
    • Raintown - Paul Bain & Claire McArthur Bain (May 2018)
    • Hamilton Loomis (December 2017)
    • Alan Nimmo (October 2017)
    • Erja Lyytinen (September 2017)
    • Suzi Quatro (September 2017)
    • Biff Byford (August 2017)
    • Dan Patlansky (June 2017)
    • Graham Bonnet (May 2017)
    • Simon Thacker (April 2017)
    • Sari Schorr (March 2017)
    • Stevie Nimmo (February 2017)
    • Dan Reed (February 2017)
    • Adam Norsworthy (January 2017)
    • Colin James (December 2016)
    • John Lees (October 2016)
    • Sari Schorr (August 2016)
    • Mike Vernon (August 2016)
    • Wayne Proctor (July 2016)
    • Laurence Jones (April 2016)
    • Chantel McGregor (March 2016)
    • John Young (January 2016)
    • Michael Schenker (November 2015)
    • Martin Barre (October 2015)
    • Chris Norman (September 2015)
    • Joanne Shaw Taylor (August 2015)
    • Fee Waybill (July 2015)
    • Ian Anderson (June 2015)
    • John Lodge (June 2015)
    • John Lawton (May 2015)
    • Steve Hackett (May 2015)
    • Manny Charlton (April 2015)
    • Ben Poole (April 2015)
    • Alan Nimmo (February 2015)
    • Popa Chubby (December 2014)
    • Paul Young (July 2014)
    • Bernie Shaw (June 2014)
    • Lee Kerslake (December 2013)
    • Pat Travers (September 2013)
    • Steve Hunter (August 2013)
    • Joy Dunlop (March 2013)
    • Gwyn Ashton (Dec. 2012)
    • Greg Lake (October 2012)
    • Ned Evett (August 2012)
    • Steven Lindsay (July 2012)
    • Dave Cureton (June 2012)
    • Jon Anderson (May 2012)
    • Jeremey Frederick Hunsicker (March 2012)
    • Amy Schugar (Feb. 2012)
    • Robert Fleischman (November 2011)
    • Ivan Drever (Sep. 2011)
    • Michael Sadler (June 2011)
    • James Evans (April 2011)
    • Alyn Cosker (Nov. 2010)
    • Scott Higham (Nov. 2010)
    • Kevin Chalfant (Oct. 2010)
    • Francis Dunnery (Sep. 2010)
    • Duncan Chisholm (Aug 2010)
    • Barbara Rubin (July 2010)
    • Alan Reed (June 2010)
  • Muirsical Q&A with...
    • Félix Rabin (February 2020)
    • Chantel McGregor (August 2019)
    • Greig Taylor (July 2019)
    • Adam Norsworthy (June 2019)
    • Erja Lyytinen (March 2019)
  • Muirsical Articles...
    • 2019AB?
    • The Fool Guitar - The Fool Story
    • Alex Harvey - Framed in Words. And pictures
    • Home of a Ramblin' Band (Allman Brothers Band Big House Museum)
    • Journey - That Time Forgot
    • KISS - Elder Statesmen, Elder Statement?
    • Phil Lynott - Remembering Pt. 3
    • Freddie Mercury - The Days of His Life
    • Gary Moore - Last Exit
    • Mott - Without any of the Hoople-la
    • Muirsical Six of the Best
    • Music Town: A Decade of the Darvel Music Festival
    • Pat Travers - The Forgotten Power Trio
    • Playing Tribute
    • Gerry Rafferty - Humblebum to Multi-Million Seller
    • Cliff Richard - The Rock and Roll Juvenile
    • Slade - Thanks For the Memories
    • The Sweet - A Cut Above the Rest
    • Talon - On Eagles Wings
    • Wild Horses - Thoroughbreds or also-rans?
  • A Personal Journey: Definitive Edition (eBook)
  • Steve Perry (vocalist): One in a Million (eBook)
  • A Writer's Muirsings...
    • A Writer's Muirsings: Introduction
    • Superbowl XLVII MVP: Beyoncé (February 2013)
    • Michael Jackson: The Alternative Verdict (Nov 2011)
    • True Colours (November 2010)
    • It's a New Language, Old Bean (October 2010)
    • Finger Pointing (July 2010)
    • Suffer the Little Children (April 2010)
    • Hey 'Banker', can you spare a dime? (February 2010)
    • Earlier Muirsings... >
      • Muirsical Christmas #1's (December 09)
      • 3-D, or not 3-D, Avatar? (December 09)
      • Pains, Planes and Automobiles (November 09)
  • A Man of Letters...
    • A Man of Letters (Introduction)
    • Letter to Danbury Mint #1
    • Letter to Danbury Mint #2
    • Letter to The Catholic League
    • Letter to SKY #1
    • Letter to SKY #2
    • Letter to SKY #3
    • Letter to Leeds City Council Parking Services
  • Author Bio & Site Info
  • Contact FabricationsHQ
Built for comfort...
THE SKY - Majestic
Picture
With Majestic THE SKY, fronted by singer songwriter and record producer Robert Fleischman, have picked up where the band’s excellent, self-titled debut left off.

But not in terms of THE SKY Part 2 or cutting a record from the same mould 
– Majestic encapsulates the musical energy of THE SKY but with an extended dynamic that adds a number of new layers to the band’s sound.

The spacey and, it has to be said, majestic ‘Breath Away’ opens the album in soaring melodic style but the song would also make a powerful closing track (nor would it be out of place playing over the end credits of a modern-era James Bond movie).

The following number, ‘Pill,’ is THE SKY at their most vibrant; a modern rock sound mixed with a hint of psychedelic 60’s chorus, all layered over a simple 4-4 beat.

THE SKY then get a little bluesy on the slow-burning groove of ‘One Day,’ the band’s new rhythm guitarist Ryan Lake throwing some tasty lead shapes across the song.

The Beatles-esque verses and heavy chorus of ’I Need It’ mesh extremely well (melodic pop dressed in hard rock clothing) while ‘Take Away’ expands on the Fab Four’s influence.
The latter comes complete with orchestration, a bridge straight out of the Beatles songbook and a lovely little solo from lead guitarist Brady Cole that could be a homage to George Harrison.

As the rest of Majestic unfolds the realisation dawns that, like 'Breath Away,' the majority of songs would make great album closers; it’s almost a surprise (albeit a pleasant one) to hear another song kick in as the previous one ends.

Majestic has its strongest songs contained within the first half of the track sequencing but in truth there are highlights throughout the thirteen track album.

For example ‘Little by Little’ has a "sure I’ve heard it before" quality about it but that’s down to a simple but ridiculously effective melody – and a three word chorus hook you’ll be singing or humming for the rest of the day.

‘One More Chance’ and ‘Poison Little Fingers’ pick up the pace and allow the band to rock out; the up-tempo pairing are tempered and separated by the acoustic-led ‘So I’ll Wait,’ a song which carries an ambience like no other song on the album.  

Each member of THE SKY plays their part on Majestic – the aforementioned Brady Cole and Ryan Lake are already sounding like the perfect six-string partnership; drummer Andre LaBelle and bassist Steve Barber are a solid rhythm section.

On the debut LaBelle and Barber drove the majority of the songs along but on Majestic they lay the rhythmic foundations upon which the musical tracks are laid 
– they underpin the bigger sound and extended dynamic that includes orchestration and keyboard additions from Robert Fleischman.

But it’s the front man’s natural instrument that is the focal point – make that vocal point 
– of Majestic. 
When Robert Fleischman first came to prominence in 1977 as Journey's first front man (preceding Steve Perry by nine months) he loudly and clearly demonstrated he had the "screamer" notes and range.

But Fleischman has more vocal depth these days and his vocal intelligence and melodic phrasing, crafted over the decades, are a far counter-tenor cry from Journey and the Vinnie Vincent Invasion.
Simply put, Robert Fleischman is singing better now than at any other time in his career.

Case in vocal point is final song ‘Sincerely Me.’
The simply arranged ballad highlights Robert Fleischman’s sense of melody and what a song needs; it all makes for a poignant finish and one of Fleischman’s strongest, yet understated, performances.

If there is a criticism to be levelled at Majestic it’s simply that its strongest trait – a plethora of great mid-tempo numbers – is also its weakness.
A host of similarly paced songs, albeit each with its own sonic subtlety, may have those who prefer the full throttle approach waiting for a shift in to top gear that never comes.  

But that would be missing the point of THE SKY’s sophomore release.
Majestic is built for comfort, not for speed. It's an album that intentionally plays the slow-is-more card and requires a few listens to appreciate all the musical nuances.
And it features more quality closers than a Major League Baseball team’s bullpen. 

Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ


The following audio track is presented to accompany the above review and promote the work of the artist. No infringement of copyright is intended.  

Website and text contents © FabricationsHQ and Ross Muir
All Rights Reserved