Between Sunlight and Shadow

Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 802840010924
EAN: 0802840010924
ASIN: B00006JLPG

Release Date: 2002-08-13

Between Sunlight and Shadow

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General

| Rock | Styles | Music

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| Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Tracks:

Drive
Invictus
Stratum
Endless
Flight
Inferno
In Passing
All Comes Down
Ground Zero
Still
Hold a Candle
Traces
Metamorphosis
Coming Undone
Infractus

Similar Items:

Color of Space
Blackfield II
Out of Myself
I Move
Mimi's Magic Moment

Album Description

Between Sunlight and Shadow is a 44-minute progressive epic divided into 15 distinct sections. The music and lyrics reflect the band's diverse influences, which include Marillion, Spock's Beard, Genesis, and many others.

Customer Reviews:

Epic, Flawless Prog-Rock Masterpiece.......2007-02-17

I have been a big fan of this unsigned band since their debut, "The Color Of Space", and this album was an unexpected change in direction from the sound and feel of their first album....but has grown on me to the point where it is now not only my favorite album of theirs, but one of my favorite prog albums in general.

For those who have listened to "The Color Of Space", the most notable gearshift on this disc is the change in feel and mood, along with the departure of the band's former vocalist. This album is more melancholy and cohesive, being a conceptual work of sorts; a series of interrelated pieces very well arranged into a seamless whole...various melodic ideas and motifs are explored and revisited later in the album- a nice touch which really ties it together.

Singularity, after only two self-produced albums, already sound like a seasoned and experienced progressive rock act. I would compare their sound to Porcupine Tree, Rush and Pink Floyd, but comparisons only do so much. Tasteful keys and production is coupled with guitar work which is occasionally heavy but often more classical or folk-based, but always melodic and textural in it's approach. Add philosophical lyrics and great vocals sometimes reminiscent of Marillion or Enchant, coupled with a cinematic, hypnotic and melancholy approach and you have a very compelling and artistic album....I highly recommend this to any fan or prog or just intelligent music in general. Highest recommendation.

Not ready for prime time.......2006-04-26

Its somewhat heartening to see some Amazon regulars pull for the underdog here, but some of these reviews are essays in hyperbole.

About a year or so ago I came upon a recommendation for the first disc, The Colour of Space. I found it to be a good freshman album, with the usual prog trappings, and a sound that is derrivative of early '80s Rush, but nonetheless, a good first album. The musicianship was tight and the writing very competant in both lyrical content and structure, and the lead singer wasn't bad, but not great. After listening to the album off and on over the last year, I found myself really rooting for these guys, and I sort of had my hopes up for the second release; I was in for a let-down.

The second album retains the same level of writing and musicianship, but the first lead singer is bye-bye (had to move?), though he is mentioned in the credits as a contributing writer. As lack-luster as his vocals were on the first effort, he is sorely missed on this outing, which is a shame, because the music portion of this disc is particularly good. The album is a bit pretentious in that it is presented as one piece of contiguous music (43 min) and it isn't pulled off very well, sounding forced here and there. But there are some very good musical moments where this band seems like a focused, veteran group (I'd say for the most part). If the singing were on a par with the music, the rest of you would know who this group is already. But it isn't. And its not like these guys have voices you need to get used to, they just flat out suck. Two of them share vocal duties as well as play, and play well they do. They remind me of how a younger, raw Spock's Beard might have sounded a year prior to The Light. But Neal Morse sounds like frikkin Placido Domingo compared to these guys. Yeah ,yeah, I know...prog isn't about vocals, but common. If only they weren't so timid sounding.

I still find myself wanting to root for these guys, but they desperately need a lead singer, or they need to emerse themselves in vocal lessons. Time will also tell how dependant they were on the original singer, since he was the primary writer. But as is, they are definately aren't ready for a major contract yet. Or a minor one either.

Why take a chance on an obscure band?.......2004-03-01

It is your money, but this CD says so much to me about how the big record companies are "in control" of the general public's tastes. This CD was clearly not made in order to line the pockets of those involved in its recording. They did not think that this would get them more attention from the "ladies." There were no record company types talking about videos and going to parties with Cher or some other person like that. I cannot speak for the band, but it seems to me that they only did it because they love doing it. As far as I am concerned, I believe that they made something that is worthy of attention. Sadly, this CD will likely never receive even a fraction of the attention it deserves.

I can't say that the music contained on Singularity's second CD is completely original, but I can say that they have taken many of my favorite parts of prog-rock and put them together in a way that makes them sound fresh.

The songwriting is very impressive; there are great melodies, complex arrangements, repeated themes that are not repeated too often, skilled playing, and lots of ear candy. The songs themselves are really just one really long song separated into 15 parts.
Of particular interest, well...I cannot say that I like any of the parts better than the others. They are all equally essential.

There are long stretches with no vocals, and yet the emotion that is conveyed is huge. Everything ebbs and flows nicely along, even the mean parts (Inferno is as powerful as any metal band I have heard - aside from Opeth, of course).

I guess the only thing that I do not love about this CD is the vocal mix in places. But then, I am just splitting hairs at this point because it is certainly listenable.

Buy this CD as fast as you can.

Right rate:3 stars,1/2,in the vein of the recent Echolyn..........2003-03-26

This work is remarkable and quite amazing too,but in my opinion it's too much in the vein of the recent Echolyn,IZZ and the 80's Rush ...I don't get crazy for such works nor for the vocals, but naturally I find some excellent stuff within;instead I regard "Suffocating the Bloom" by Echolyn as an appealing masterpiece... anyway coming back to the present issue, I like to remark the good impression that I received from their sense of melody and the creation of a particular atmosphere as well:even though there's no trace of any bombastic solos or complex arrangements, this concept album, in the middle between progressive rock and space rock, maintains a certain balance, by means of fifteen tracks which often flow fluently.Besides the presence of a simple and essential piano, some good effects (like the run of cars passing on the highway), take the listener to a fine landscape... to me the best track is "Hold a Candle", along with "Flight", where you find an invigorating synthesizer.Instead "Infractus" is a melancholic tune, quite symphonic-like;and moreover,even though you don't find any bombastic solos, the keyboards excursions by John Green are quite fiery and intelligent!!

Well now I stop reviewing such album, because I don't want to affect your opinion ... THIS IS A PROMISE ANYWAY AND IT'S WORTH CHECKING OUT, DESPITE OF THEIR CLEAR MUSIC REFERENCES, REGARDING ALSO SOME DERIVATIVE INFLUENCES AS WELL!!

"Between what you feel and what you know...".......2003-01-20

A few years ago when I got Singularity's first album, _Color of Space_, I thought I was one of the very few people who had ever heard of them. In my opinion their lack of notoriety cannot be attributed to poor music -- this band's debut was a fantastic prog rock album with an endless supply of grooves and great melodies. Now there is the band's second album, _Between Sunlight and Shadow_, is an ambitious 45-minute suite split up into 15 parts. Former bassist and singer Andy Goldhawk is gone, and perhaps the difference in sound is a corollary of his departure. On the other hand, the change could have been a conscious choice, since he is credited with writing a bunch of it anyway.

Compared to the upbeat, hook-filled first album (sold here at Amazon, by the way...), this is far more pensive, layered, and subtle. Although I enjoyed the music immediately, I was slowly drawn into the album's real musical depth. I would call this album atmospheric progressive rock with an edge. I say progressive rock only because that feels right to me, but there are no cheesy "prog" keyboards or zany instrumental passages that might evoke something akin to the genre. Likewise, there is no ostentatious showmanship, as the band focuses their talents for texture and mood quite effectively. The album is somber but not really dark -- to me this is good since a lot of prog artists try to address quite serious subject matter but their music is almost cartoonish and it spoils the effect. Singularity meets no such problem. They are also exemplary composers, for the album is excellently written with thematic restatements and developments for unity and emotional attachment.

From the first notes of the album's first movement, "Drive", I was hooked. A pensive vocal, a quiet and sublime instrument outlay eliciting a lonely nighttime trip down the highway. Immediately, the change in vocals is evident, but not in any way jarring -- the rest of the band (who split the vocal duties) are deeper but reflective and solemn, fitting the music excellently.

With the dark, midnight pop of "Drive" ending, the album slides headlong into its musical venture. There are some harder moments interspersed throughout, such as Part VI "Inferno", which musters more balls than 97% of the prog metal bands, with its heavy riffs and clattering percussion. "Ground Zero", part IX is a snappy beat with whirling organ for another rocking section. Beginning with "Still", part X, the album goes from great to amazing, slipping into a sublime tranquillity to the end, "Infractus". Exquisite guitars, both electric and acoustic, and beautiful pianos (as well as a deeply emotional vocal on "Hold a Candle"). Lyrical, gorgeous keyboard orchestrations color an emotional atmosphere, while the brief rhythmically heavy bits seem more intense when carefully juxtaposed against these softer moments.

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