www.mycastrovalley.com

Review: Lifeline

By Eric Brooks

For those unfamiliar with this local progressive rock trio, the two founders of the group grew up here in Castro Valley. Dave now lives just over the hill in San Leandro & Attila has moved away to Walnut Creek. One of the distinctive factors that sets ADP apart from the vast majority of today's "progressive rock" bands is that (booking agents take note) these guys can re-create their CD's sound live & enjoy doing so as often as humanly possible. They play live shows once or twice a month around the Bay Area, also touring up & down the entire West Coast when they have the time. "Lifeline" is the band's second offering, recorded at the world-renowned Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, CA, produced by Grammy Award-winner Steve Fontano (for his work on Santana's "Supernatural" album) & released without indie or major label backing.

And now, for those unfamiliar with "progressive rock" I'm including this definition from another source: "Progressive rock is a style of music that combines classical music's sense of space and monumental scope with rock's raw power and energy. There is frequent inclusion of other musical styles such as classical, R&B, jazz, folk, avant-garde and world music. Arrangements are typically complex, dynamic and multi-dimensional usually featuring intricate keyboard and guitar playing. Many of the early progressive rock bands incorporated a Mellotron or string synth to simulate an orchestra backing. Dynamics are also an important part of progressive rock. A mixture of loud passages, soft passages and musical crescendos add to the emotion of arrangements, as do extended instrumental solos, which may involve some improvisation. It is also not unusual for bands to compose lengthy, yet structured, multi-movement compositions that center on a core musical theme. Lyrical content may draw from science fiction, mythology, fantasy and utopian literature." (-Definition from an unknown author working for AT&T/Excite@Home)

The "Lifeline" CD opens with a short but musically broad & expansive track, "http://artists.mp3s.com/artist_song/557/557653.html" which captures the ADP style in a nutshell. Followed by the longer (albeit mellower), more psychedelic second song "http://artists.mp3s.com/artist_song/573/573253.html" which helps set the tone for this album. "Moonlight" comes next, with pipe organs opening this epic song of woe. This track exposes the darker side of ADP, and is the first of 3 "epic" songs on this CD. Guitar & keyboard stlyes change adeptly from blues, jazz & rock under Dave & Attila's respective fingers (this track reminds me of early King Crimson with a smattering of Kieth Emerson's The Nice & also Pink Floyd.)
"http://artists.mp3s.com/artist_song/572/572611.html" is a personal favorite (my opinion has been corrupted in ADP's favor, having heard this standard of their gigs some 20+ times live) so you'll just have to give it a spin...this song is an example of their heavier side packaged in a radio-friendly format. Then we have the second "epic" on this album, "Hills & Valleys," which could have easily been the title track for this CD. The song opens with slide guitar leading into vocal gymnastics between Attila & Dave. This one track is a great example of what to expect from ADP: melody, arrangement & vocals combined to create a mini-rock opera in a mere 7 1/2 minutes time. Again this is a track that you can expect to hear at any live show. One problem with today's prog-rock bands is that most can't re-create the same sound live, but with hundreds of shows behind them, ADP have no problem delivering the goods playing live shows.
"Circe" begins as a mellow change of pace, built around a Beatlesque melody that will stick with you long after the initial listen & features the most memorable of Attila's vocals from the entire album. "Some Saturday Blues" is yet another live standard & clocking in at 8:23 is the longest & also the last of the epic tunes on "Lifeline." Opening as a loose, jazzy piece, this track quickly picks up tempo in a graceful, yet staggered, pace. The build-up shifts into a progressive jazz/metal explosion of keys, guitar, bass & drum (all this from just 3 band members, mind you.) The final song, "Grace," is a great wrap-up to this album. Attila's vocals & piano open the track with gradual accompaniment from Dave & percussionist Rusty, building into a brilliant prog arrangement. A great finale to the second studio effort from this local band. You can pick this disc up cheap directly from the band through mail-order via their main web site at: attilaanddaveproject.com.