Fool Ascent - The Giver of Dreams
CD Info
2013
Self Released / USA
12 Tracks
English Lyrics
Prepare to have your mind blown. If you love hearing beautiful female voices take you through a labyrinth of dreams during a stellar rock opera, complete with accents on space rock and world fusion, this is your ticket.
Fool Ascent began in 2009 in New York City with original band founders Jean-Jacques L’Héritier and Hayli Henderson. Christea Parent joined later and they have added several guest artists to the mix, creating music that includes touches of space rock and world fusion.
Fool Ascent has a rich stage and performing background that leads to some uniquely staged concerts merging multiple art forms. (Would love to see this rock opera performed live). The band includes: Hayli Henderson and Christea Parent, on lead vocals: Dina Lucchesi, Karen Moulton, and Kelly Moulton singing backing vocals; with multi-instrumentalist Jean-Jacques L’Heritier supplying the music, melody, rhythm and programming.
The Giver of Dreams is an original world rock opera written by Jean-Jacques exploring the depths of life, love, darkness, and hope in the "unlikely love story between two beings living in two different dimensions" (http://www.facebook.com/GiverofDreams, 2013)
"Prelude – Dark Matter" opens with star bright keys and synths that light a fine passage for female vocals, "Live my dream. Come to me. Let’s be lovers in my dimension. I am the Giver of Dreams". Full of warm synths and keys that, if you’re listening with headphones, will completely relax and take you with her to that other dimension of the mind.
"Q Sans A" continues the exploration of this dimension we’ve entered with warm female vocals, "I wonder about life. I wonder about the life you gave me. Oh how I love to be loved. Q Sans A, why, why?" all set to a great beat full of electric drums, excellent guitar, and whirls of keyboard rhythms. The "Q Sans A" refrain must be experienced. It is so catchy, you’ll be singing along with her.
"Dark Matter" opens with majestic blast off of keys, guitar and cymbals. Sounds like a movie soundtrack at times. Yes, this is very visual. This track has a wonderful reggae backbeat that just absorbs your consciousness completely. Female vocals sing, "They are on the TV to keep you from living. If you buy into the lie you will surely die. In the dream are all the answers. Come to me let’s be lovers in my dimension". Close your eyes forget the world outside for a while and let go. One of the best tracks on the album.
"Eternity" is full of oceans of flowing keyboards coupled with the sounds of waves. Dreaming with her yet? Well you will be. "In a sea of thoughts I wander. But I hope one day I will find in your arms a safe place I can laugh". Lyrics full of emotions flowing with the music and deep vocal range of the lead singer.
"In the Shadow of Your Sun" has a sinister keyboard opening, which is followed by the protagonist female vocalist and soft electronic drums and percussion. She sings, "How can I resist the gravity of your eclipse". Mystical keyboard and drum rhythms fill the soundscape guiding you through the story and creating an environment that surrounds this entire project.
"Into Your Unknown" has more of that cool percussion rhythm mixed well with spacey keys and flute like sounds at its opening. Takes me right back to one of my favorite tracks from Peter Gabriel’s Security album. Then female vocals return, "Like two galaxies colliding in my little universe. It all comes down crashing in, when I’m thinking about us". More of those rich keyboard rhythms and sounds help surround her voice. "Show me how to trust you. I believe in you, but I wish I believed you". Yes, deep thinking and contemplation surrounded by excellent sounds. The vocal refrains are perfect and help draw you in with her.
"Blinded by Darkness" opens with those excellent drums that help create the effect that you are off on a distant journey. The backing female vocals are wonderful. Lots of great changing rhythms and power drums are added to the mix, providing a quality beyond expectation.
"My Destiny" opens with the sounds of rain, and deep piano-like keyboards. This track feels darker and those deep keys help drive the emotions. The female vocals are full of regretful emotion, "You broke my heart. You forever tore us apart. I must depart". Not the way you were hoping this to end?
If "My Destiny" was dark, then "My Anguish, Your Wish?" is like a dive to the bottom of the sea. That is what that deep, dark opening keyboard and synth assault feels like anyway. The female vocals follow that emotion, "This is the end. Here is my life into your hands. Have you reached your goal? Here is my love dying". Yah…I warned you. A slow moving dirge like feel to this one. Then, remember Clare Torry, the famous singer from Pink Floyd’s ‘The Great Gig in the Sky", from Dark Side of the Moon? Well, sit back and enjoy the sequel from Fool Ascent.
"Being Blue" opens to more bright keyboards and female vocals that remind me of Marcela Bovio, and some of her dream-like sequences from Stream of Passion’s "Embrace the Storm" or "Haunted". Later with references to reflections in the pool she almost sounds like Kate Bush. Yes, the best of both worlds. Excellent, soprano-like vocals engulf the production.
"Grasping Light" quickens the pace as the end of the album and story is clearly in sight. Female vocals, "In this dense emptiness. Here lies forgiveness. At the height of darkness. Through the murkiness. I take a new first breath".
"River in the Sea" closes this album full of a powerful river of mighty keyboards and drums. Female vocals echo the salutation, "Dance in the river with me. Forever, you and me".
As I said, beautiful female vocals and excellent musical support. I really hope they perform this entire album live…somewhere. (Hopefully out west). An accompanying DVD or Blu-ray would really help bring this story to life.
Get this album, put on some headphones, close your eyes and dream again.
Rating: 8 / 10
