SAGA - review added 14th April 2009
Album Review: The Human Condition (2009)
For fans of: prog rock... and Red Dwarf...?
Saga are a Canadian progressive rock outfit who have now be going for over 30 years. With more than 30 albums to their name (including compilations and live releases) they are well established in the prog rock hierarchy.
The Human Condition is the band's 20th studio album, and also the debut for excellent new vocalist Rob Moratti (who replaces the band's only previous singer, Michael Sadler). Moratti has an unusual but characterful and pleasant voice. His tone suits the music well and has a relaxed yet edgy feel.
Saga, on this album at least, have a sound like the love child of Threshold and Marillion. The way they knit mellow and rocking into their own unique style is mightily impressive. The album is very proggy, but never crosses into inaccessibility. Everything is where it is for a reason: there is little or no frippery. Prog bands often garnish their recordings with a technically impressive but unnecessary broken-beat halo. Saga are clearly way beyond this.
Special note should be made of the artwork on The human Condition. It really is breathtakingly good and has a rightful claim as the new leader in the fight for cover of the year. I haven't seen much of Balasz Papay's other work (although he has apparently done at least one other Saga album), but he's clearly a jolly talented guy.
'Hands Of Time' is a fantastical song that drifts with the clouds in a parallel world. It's a beautiful dream imbued track with a wonderfully inspirational sound and a chilled persona. It boasts more relaxational properties than a mud face pack in a flotation tank. 'A Number With A Name' is like a cross between Yes and 10CC. It's a flouncing fun track with some fully leftfield lyrics. Do lines get any better than, "Someone turn the lighthouse down"? Utterly bonkers, but brilliant.
'Now Is Now', like the earlier track 'Avalon', has a strong Middle Eastern influence mixed in with some otherwise conventional themes. The track has a majestical nature and, perhaps, gives the impression of looking down on you from a higher plateau. 'Crown Of Thorns' is a pumping, rocking track with a fabulous main rhythm. It sounds great on record. It would sound utterly mesmerising live.
'You Look Good To Me' makes me laugh. It probably shouldn't... but it does. Reason? Check out the song from Red Dwarf called 'Tongue Tied' (find the video on YouTube). Give it a listen and tell me the two songs aren't worryingly similar! The best thing to do is play the video on silent with the Saga music dubbed over the top. It works surprisingly well.
The Human Condition is a brilliant, brilliant, album. I've managed to not across Saga before this album. Not sure how but there you go. Anyway, this is a superb release and, for me at least, it has comfortably surpassed Forgotten Suns' album Innergy as the best prog release this year. The depth of talent on display, the production, and even the artwork are all a big-fat-juicy-cut above average. Stunning.
Check out... Well, it has to be the final track Vs Red Dwarf. Try it!
Track List:
01. The Human Condition
02. Step Inside
03. Hands Of Time
04. Avalon
05. A Number With A Name
06. Now Is Now
07. Let It Go
08. Crown Of Thorns
09. You Look Good To Me
Label: Inside Out Music
Artist's websites: Saga , MySpace
