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Peter Gee - Vision Of Angels

Artist:	Peter Gee
Title:	Vision Of Angels
Label:	TOFF PEND8CD
Length(s):	56 minutes
Year(s) of release:	1997
Month of review:	05/1997

Line up

Simon Clew - lead and backing vocals
Steve Christy - drums
Ian Salmon - electric guitar
Tina Riley - choir and backing vocals
Nick Barrett - guitar on always and orphans
Clive Nolan - keyboard solo's on always and heart's desire, orchestral percussion and backing vocals
Peter Gee - guitars, bass and keyboards on the rest
Produced by Gee and Karl Groom

Tracks

1)	Always	10.11
2)	Heart's Desire	6.43
3)	Lost And Found	6.12
4)	Faith	3.52
5)	Never Could Say Goodbye	5.07
6)	Orphans (all Alone In The World)	8.56
7)	Foreign Land	2.42
8)	Jordan	9.11
9)	I Believe In Love	3.53

Summary

The second solo album, after the debut Heart of David some years ago, by Peter Gee of Pendragon fame. Was the first one dedicated to Geoff Mann, this one is dedicated to his "long lost best friend", but maybe these two are the same person, I don't know.

The music

Like the previous album, the music on this album is not as progressive as Pendragon's and also the lyrics have a highly religious content. All songs have verses noted under them and the lyrics also have an aura of idealism and maybe naivete over them. Musically this CD is more in the progressive style than the previous and I do think that the song material is more mature than on Heart of David. The line-up is a lot less extensive than on the debut, but like on the debut Nick Barrett plays along only a little (and the very recognizable (and great) guitar solo's in Always and Oprhans make these parts sound very much like Pendragon). While Heart of David featured Tracy Hitchings and Paul Wilson (the brother of Damian), I do think that the change of vocalist is for the better although Simon Clew (of A Million Blues) does not seem to feel at home much in the lower regions, but he has a warm voice, although with little power (at least he uses little power).

The longest track (over 10 minutes) is also the first and starts of with classical piano, the middle part contains the vocals while the last part of the track is devoted to a long guitar solo by Barrett. Heart's Desire is a friendly sounding one with mostly acoustic guitar (by Gee himself). In the middle there's an instrumental intermezzo with electric guitar and keyboards and after which we return to the singalong chrous.

Lost and Found is another rather mellow track with again the melody playing the central role. It sounds rather sad at first, but the ending is more hopeful with the keyboards building up.

Faith is a typical acoustic ballad with a little keyboard at the end, and the next one Never Could Say Goodbye is certainly not a cover. It sounds a little like lounge jazz and reminds me of something, maybe a little of Ed van Otterdyke in there.

The next tracks sounds so much like Camel's Ice, it can't be a coincidence. The last part of the track is rather different though, with choir vocals by Tina Riley.

Foreign Land is a short but majestic sounding track with desperate dramatic vocals, church bells and subtle electric guitarwork, followed by the long Jordan. This track starts out quietly and sounds a bit like Peter Gabriel's softer solo work. Some of the keyboards here remind me of Pallas' Ratracing (at leats I think it was that track), but also has a nice build up

The closer of the album is very nice ballad I Believe in Love, which to some might sound a little to sugary, but I have to admit liking it. A reference to Chris de Burgh should say enough.

Conclusion

A quiet album with nice melodies, a warm comforting sound, but little fire. Musically it refers a little to Pendragon, Peter Gabriel, but in my opinion more to Chris de Burgh, especially in the shorter tracks, and for people familiar with Dutch music, Maarten Peters and Ed an Otterdyke might be useful references. These references indicate that the music is not very progressive and in fact it is closer to singer songwriter music with "progressive" arrangements in that the keyboards play a central role. I for me prefer it much over Heart of David.