Do you prog from a land down under?
Unitopia - Artificial
 
Australia is far more likely to be mentioned when discussing the Sydney Opera House, Kylie Minogue, Cricket and Skippy the Bush Kangaroo than when modern or neo prog enters any conversation.
But in rock music circles, the latter is becoming more common and usually in connection with one specific band...
 
Unitopia is not just a prog rock band, but an ideal powered by the song writing skills and creative talents of Mark Trueack (vocals, percussion) and Sean Timms (keyboards, vocals). Shortly after their debut release guitarist and vocalist Matt Williams was added to the Unitopia equation.

The band cite dozens of artists as influences from the usual classic and modern prog suspects, but also incorporate many other musical genres including elements of world music, classical, jazz and native/ aboriginal rhythms.
Yet for all those influences they managed to establish their own identity on the 2005 debut release 'More Than a Dream' (released internationally in 2006).
That first album, featuring a number of guest musicians, was a strong outing, but Unitopia were just getting started...

With the band making waves for itself far beyond the surf of their native Australian shores, they signed with InsideOut Music. Then, in 2008, with the group now a fully formed six-piece including percussionist Tim Irrgang, 'The Garden’ was released to critical acclaim.

The 2CD album was a progressive and musical step forward from the band's debut, and although the twenty-two minute title track is an excellent modern prog creation with many textures, twists and turns, some parts of it do sound like the best Francis Dunnery era It Bites moments you’ve never heard.
And the song's closing minutes so closely resemble one of the musical themes from Genesis’ ‘Supper's Ready’ (including it’s own outro) that it’s clearly intentional. Some will see that as a clever homage, others will view it as a negative.
Interestingly - and it's not a criticism, just an observation - Trueack does sound a little like Peter Gabriel in their respective quieter vocal moments.

And so to 2010, and Artificial.
With a couple of personnel changes and the addition of saxophonist Peter Radiel, the now seven strong Unitopia honed the skills displayed on the previous releases, trimmed the fat, and delivered a fifty minute conceptual album based on the issues that the 'Artificial World' we live in brings.
The ten tracks cover a number of styles including rock, pop, balladeering, jazz and instrumental prog passages, but damned if it all doesn't fall seamlessly into place, the whole being greater than the sum of its already musically solid parts.

The atmospheric and percussive ‘Suffocation’ leads to the rocking and very accessible 'Artificial World', which segues into the Beatles-esque 'Nothing Lasts Forever'.
It's a great start, and it doesn't disappoint over the course of the whole album.
The longest track, 'Tesla', is a thirteen minute piece which manages to incorporate all the musical styles mentioned earlier, while lyrically referencing the inventor Nikolas Tesla who was known for his revolutionary discoveries, thoughts and theories in electricity and electromagnetism (welcome ladies and gentlemen, to the world of modern prog).

By way of contrast to the Teslas of the (artificial) world, there is the understated 'Reflections' which leads to the ninety seconds of 'The Power of 3', a classically themed piece that George Gershwin would have been proud of.
'The Great Reward' closes proceedings by first revisiting the musical theme of Nothing Lasts Forever, before building to a prog power ballad finish.

Initial releases of Artificial also contain three bonus tracks, and special mention must go to the excellent and radio friendly (should the band decide to edit its nine minute length) 'What Kind of World' that follows The Great Reward, which for this listener also works as an epilogue or addendum to the album.

Artificial isn't just one of the best modern prog releases I've heard, it's one of the best conceptual albums I've heard.
That conclusion is based on the subject matter of the concept, how it's delivered, and the fact that it's presented within fifty minutes of superbly crafted music rather than the old fashioned way of clubbing you over the head with four sides of vinyl or two 70+ minute CD's.

Unitopia are picking up a seriously deserved reputation in not just progressive circles, but in rock music generally. In October they will be appearing at the Summers End Festival in the U.K. as well as playing a select number of European dates.
Bass player Shaun Duncan and drummer Jamie Jones will not be part of that tour, having moved on after Artificial, but no doubt the remaining Unitopians will have a rhythm section in place by tour time.

Beyond Artificial, the band are already looking at a new project which will be a covers album culled from a diverse selection of artists & songs. And having seen the proposed track listing (subject to change) it promises to be as interesting, and probably as musically creative, as Artificial.

Unitopia. Prog Wizards of Oz.
(oh, come on - you knew it was coming).

Ross Muir
June 2010


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

Nothing Lasts Forever
The Great Reward