Terra Incognita: Beyond The Horizon

Roswell Six | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 2, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: ProgRock Records
• ASIN: B0026IZRHA
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #92,853 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Review

It s not unusual for the paths of Science Fiction and Progressive Rock to intersect. There have been a number of times where the work of famous sci-fi writers has been the inspiration for some heady projects. But I can t really remember another project where the writer in this case Kevin J. Anderson actually gets involved with the project to use the musical scope of prog to provide a crossover project for his work. This is the musical interpretation of Anderson s new novel Terra Incognita: Beyond the Horizon. The musicians brought together to create the music go by the name of Roswell Six and consist of: Erik Norlander (keyboards) ROCKET SCIENTISTS, Lana Lane (female lead vocals), Kurt Barabas (bass) UNDER THE SUN and Executive Producer Shawn Gordon. The band is then supported by quite a talented crew: James LaBrie (vocals) DREAM THEATER, Michael Sadler (vocals) SAGA, John Payne (vocals) ex-ASIA, David Ragsdale (violin) KANSAS, Gary Wehrkamp (guitar) SHADOW GALLERY, Chris Quirarte (drums) PRYMARY, Chris Brown (guitar) GHOST CIRCUS, Mike Alvarez (cello) and Martin Orford (flute) IQ. Indeed it s a stellar cast.



The music of Terra Incognita was composed and produced by Norlander so it should not be a surprise to hear that there is a ring of familiarity if you are familiar with his other projects. That said this is very much a project with its own distinctive qualities. These 13 tracks, most in the five-minute range are best described as hard-edged symphonic prog; not really prog-metal by any stretch of the imagination but with enough crunchy guitar to satisfy that crowd as well. There are guitars, flutes, violins and keyboards aplenty taking turns at performing solos centre-stage. This is after all a story about war, dragons and ship-wrecks so it needs to be grand and in many cases aggressive. And here the music and multi-vocal delivery really works well presenting us with a larger-than-life panoramic vista. The CD opens with one of the more complex pieces; Ishalem [11:02] the longest track on the disc and there are plenty of musical change-ups here as the story is introduced and it seems everyone, vocalist and instrumentalist gets a chance to shine in the spotlight. From there you can follow along in the booklet where Anderson has written short introductions to each piece helping fill in the story line. The only tracks that approach a similar level of complexity and musical diversity would be the two instrumentals The Sinking of the Luminara [5:44] and The Edge of the World [4:43]. The second track of the story, like many of those that follow alternate between being up-tempo chunky-guitar compositions with parping-synths accents or slower emotion-laden ballads featuring acoustic guitars. Vocals alternate throughout depending on whose story is being spotlighted or who is telling the tale.



The music of Roswell Six is pretty faultless in its execution: these are talented musicians and the detailed and adventurous arrangements more than make up for any lack of compositional complexity. These are songs that focus on the story and that is as it should be. I m pretty sure fans of any of the bands detailed above are going to absolutely love this disc. It s an epic musical adventure that has much to recommend it. My guess is Terra Incognita will make many of the years Best of... lists, and so it should. Well done! --Jerry Lucky

Product Description

Japanese pressing includes one bonus track. Marquee. 2009. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great CD!, June 2, 2009

By 

Robert Junker (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Terra Incognita: Beyond The Horizon (Audio CD)

I received my copy of it a couple of weeks ago and a day hasn't gone by that I haven't listened to it at least once.
My coworkers have been greatly surprised. I usually leave the louder music at home, but I haven't been able to with this CD.
From the opening moments of Ishalem, straight through to the end, I've been enjoying it more and more everytime I listen to it.
Author Kevin J. Anderson and his wife, Rebecca Moesta (also an author) are first time lyricists. They managed to accomplish a great deal in regards to song and story on this CD. Making the CD and the book "The Edge of the World" a well rounded achievement.
"Here Be Monsters" is still my favorite song, but "The Call of the Sea" is creeping up there.
Lana Lane is fantastic. I'd never listened to her much before this, but I will be tracking down more of her stuff.
I think the main reason, for the two songs that I like, is the vocals of John Payne as "Captain Shay."

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Okay, but nothing special, November 26, 2010

By 

I. Mitchell - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Terra Incognita: Beyond The Horizon (Audio CD)

This album was recorded as a companion to Kevin Anderson's novel Terra Incognita: The Edge of the World, with Anderson and his wife contributing lyrics while prog-rock keyboardist Erik Norlander (Rocket Scientists) took the lead on the music. Lana Lane (Norlander's wife and a solo artist in her own right), James Labrie (Dream Theater) John Payne (ex-Asia) and Michael Sadler (ex-Saga) all contribute vocals.

As would be expected from the pedigree of those involved, the musicianship is pretty solid. If you're familiar with Rocket Scientists or Lana Lane's music you'll have a pretty good idea of what to expect - keyboard-driven progressive rock with a bit of a "bombastic" feel to it. The vocalists all give excellent performances, though on the title track Beyond the Horizon is pronounced as "Beyond thee Horizon" by the singer, which feels a bit jarring. On the downside, the compositions themselves feel a bit bland; aside from Ishalem none of them are particularly memorable. The lyrics also tend to be a bit simplistic. Overall while I don't mind this album, and find the novel-album crossover idea a bit intriguing, I think the CD will be collecting dust on my shelf in short order.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great addition to my Progressive library., June 12, 2009

By 

Prester Dilly - See all my reviews

This review is from: Terra Incognita: Beyond The Horizon (Audio CD)

Genesis, Pink Floyd, Rush, Yes, Dream Theater. I have always been drawn to progressive rock music. The artistry, the technical aspects. Some of the best keyboard work has been one of the biggest parts of progressive rock.

Prog Rock may not be for everyone. sometimes it requires you to have thoughts. It's never really been for those who just want to dance. It's made to enjoy what the instruments and their players are capable of. And the performers on this disc are capable of a lot!

When I first heard about this CD, I knew it would be my style. The main thing that drove me to want to hear it was the fact that James LaBrie from "Dream Theater" was a part of it. And it did not disappoint at all.

I loved the way the songs flow together to form a musical opera to Kevin J. Anderson's latest novel release,"The Edge of the World". The lyrics are a wonderful representation of the book.

The musicians who took part in this endeavor are all great talents. Lana Lane's vocals were totally haunting. LaBrie's vocals were powerful as always and as a keyboardist of 25 years, I really loved the performances of Erik Norlander of "Rocket Scientists". He loads the entire CD with great keyboard artistry.

The CD moves quite well and is a must for any lover of progressive rock. Rush fans, Dream Theater fans, Pink Floyd. You name it. And, when Anderson releases the sequel to "The Edge of the World", I truly hope he rounds up everyone from this album to give us another serving from Roswell Six.