IN CONTINUUM

Acceleration Theory: Part One REcPlay

THE SONGS CRACKLE WITH ENERGY, KERZNER GOING

FULL WAKEMAN.

Interstellar overdrive from Ex-Sound of Contact keys man.

For many years, the word ‘supergroup’ was a bit of a dirty word. With one or two rare exceptions, it was often a signal for disappointment. The total effect was often less than the sum of the parts. Then, if you add in lots of guest appearances, the recipe can be a right old mess of potage. Dave Kerzner – whose CV includes work with Steven Wilson, Jon Anderson and Steve Hackett – deserves to take a bow. His new project, In Continuum, which features prog royalty and senior session artists galore, could have got lost under its cast’s reputations. Instead, it is a bit of a modern miracle.

Arising out of the breakdown of Sound Of Contact, In Continuum includes fellow Contacts member, bassist Matt Dorsey, as well as vocalist Gabriel Agudo, drummer Marco Minnemann and guitarist Randy McStine, whose individual credits are impressive enough before you come across song cowrites with Simon Collins and Kelly Nordstrom, and guest spots from Steve Rothery, John Wesley, Nick D’Virgilio, Steve Hackett and, well, you get it… No one would be surprised if Steven Wilson isn’t hiding in the mix, playing the (dark side of the) spoons.

It’s a testimony to Kerzner’s skills that he makes this smorgasbord of talent work. Sound-wise, think Wilson meets It Bites meets Steve Hackett. Kerzner describes Acceleration Theory as an ‘interstellar love story’ and this album constitutes the first half of two works. It explores the world of AlienA – voiced by Letitia Wolf – who’s fallen in love with a romantic vision of humanity. Agudo is the voice of Kai, who may be her long-lost lover.

This proggy high-concept is grounded in the songs and some telling contributions. The guitar work from Rothery and co is especially strong. Hackett’s solo on Crash Landing soars and mutates, but it is Randy McStine who supplies fabulous snaking riffage on the groovy I Remember. With singers of the standard of Wolf, John Wesley and Gabriel Agudo the vocal performance is stunning. The effortless style of Agudo doesn’t clash with the throatier Jon Davidson, whose contribution acts like a kind of Chorus, offering comment on the unfolding work.

None of this would matter if the songs sucked. Thankfully, they crackle with energy. Scavengers is stunning prog pop that has the very best melodic nu-prog nous, while AlienA is tranced-out industrial prog with a lovely hook. As Acceleration Theory: Part One tumbles towards its close, with Kerzner going ‘full-Wakeman’ on the keyboard arpeggios, the only demand is: please don’t make us wait too long for Part Two. This is an old-fashioned, interstellar thrill-ride.