DarWin
Origin Of Species
Part-man, part computer sorts out global warming and nuclear war.
It’s 2028, and post-nuclear planet Earth is ecologically wrecked. A survivor, DarWin, is transformed by some women into a time-travelling human/ computer. Naturally he embarks on a quest to save the world and find his family. It’s an endearingly daft (after its opening tsunami of Pet Sounds-style wizardry, Gummy Bear begins ‘Gummy bear, do you even care’) saga, and there’s a graphic novel to go with the album, but musically it’s watertight and its fearsome guitars are underpinned by Crosby, Stills & Nash-style West Coast harmonies.
It’s the brainchild of veteran drummer Simon Phillips and Elton John’s current bassist Matt Bissonette, and at its best it’s enormous: the seven-minute Escape The Maze encompasses Steve Vai-esque guitars, orchestras and relentless drumming. At the end of it all, DarWin have saved the concept album as well as the planet.