After waiting I reckon 8 years (it seems longer) the goodies from Sphere have finally arrived. Mssrs Steve Anderson on Guitars, William Burnett on Bass, Neil Durant on Keyboards and Jamie Fisher on Drums collective known as Sphere3 have provided us with10 instrumental tracks of variety and spice.  It's a shame there are no vocals on this offering but perhaps the sacrifice on reflection was worth it with the amount of prog/jazz,funk and spacey feel this release has.  The sound of Sphere edges towards memories of early IQ, Jadis, Jeremy, Fonya, Camel and occasionally in the wilderness.  As like with the early cassette release entitled Signatures, the development of the Sphere sound eclectic 'prog' based or whatever, the band certainly involves themselves with some nice tempo and riffs throughout the album.  My favourites tracks are “Eat First, Ask Questions Later” and  “Paralysis” which brings heavy prog and tight rhythmic change together to produce a wonderful monster sound of guitars with keyboards.  Whereas “December Gaze” simply begs to be listened to as a slow moving but ever developing timeless piece of progression which echoes of the Flower Kings.

Certainly, Sphere play with plenty of sensitivity when needed and shows us that in their intriguing and complex sound.  They achieve this through engaging in thoughtful compositions and interesting song titles (e.g. A Good Example Of Arbitrary Presumption).  Mood changes abound and keep one’s pulse literally waiting for the next juxtaposition to occur like on Natural Light. The booklet is interesting as it shows Sphere's intellectual side with itself and reflects an interpretation of the idea of Sphere being cubic with an inner sphere within.  Sphere3 are certainly going to progress further as I hear a second CD is already being considered (of course).  Please make it happen soon. In the meanwhile wet your appetite at http://www.sphere3.co.uk/

The music on offer by GRACE is what I could best describe as whimsical folk-pop-prog.  But not necessarily in that order.  There is a great deal of charm and interesting aspects to this live CD, but I can't quite put my finger on one part that enthralls me overall.  If you are a lover of lyrical over-indulgence sentimentality then perhaps GRACE is for you.  I must admit that there are occasional hints of something very pleasant in their songs (The Fool) which makes me  want to foot tap, but this CD doesn't quite pull at the  heart-strings as I believe GRACE would wish us have.

  The vocalist Mac Austin doesn't quite rise to the demands of the varied tempo music created by GRACE, and at times his imitation of others is annoying.  The guitarist Dave Edge has his moments but all too briefly for my satisfaction.  The music creates a feeling of being seduced by near popular rather than progressive songs, perhaps trying to gain a greater audience.  Having heard their previous CD  'The Poet, The Piper, and the Fool' this live offering is really an extension to the basis that underpins their music.  I could see this band going down well with followers of groups such as Fieldwork or the Battlefield Band - especially on The Mullions, and Architects of War.  My favourite song is 'Earth Bites Back' even if it is quite popish in nature. 

  Therefore, I have yet to be fully convinced that GRACE can stimulate the old cerebral cortex more than merely provide at times a range of nice pleasant balladry melodies swimming in a sea of quiet contentment!

The web site is of course available for more information http://www.grace-music.co.uk