Martin Springett has a long career as a painter, but since the 80s he has also dedicated himself to music, first for passion now with the A Gardening Club Project and after releasing a set of tracks from the 80s, he has started producing albums continuously. The new full-length “The Blue Door” was released on October 18, 2021 via Melodic Revolution Records and contains 10 tracks ranging from 2 to over 7 minutes in length. Written during the pandemic and performed by his companions Kevin Laliberte, Drew Briston and Sari Alesh and with Special Guest Wayne Kozak, it is a Prog album that blends multiple genres and styles. To underline the splendid internal booklet containing in addition to the texts and insights on the birth of the tracks, excellent drawings depicting each song, produced by Martin himself. The album opens with “My Muse And I (Overture)” a rhythmic and engaging introductory track, with fine interweaving of guitar and keyboards, which mix traits of Flamenco with Rock. In the second part the atmospheres are more dreamy and the track pleasantly introduces us to listening to this album. Guitar arpeggios and a warm and expressive vocal open “Going North” which develops with a rhythmic session enriched by percussion. The atmospheres are darker and the instrumental part is enriched by the interventions of the violin, a very intense piece with good interlacing of guitars. “Two Houses” is a melancholy track with delicate guitar and piano melodies on a background of orchestrations and deep bass lines. The dreamy melodies counterbalance the more melancholic traits, giving life to a track full of pathos. Here we are at the title track “The Blue Door” which returns to a more rhythmic drumming, enriched by tempo changes, while the melodies are more positive. With a Jazzy touch, it is a passage that develops on interweaving between guitar and keyboard orchestrations with a dynamic vocal, with a characteristic brand, suitable for the various situations of the piece. Another short passage “The Path Not Taken” features a keyboard background with more electronic synth inserts and rhythmic drumming. The guitar is at the center of the sound with a solo insert in the central part, to close with layers of keys in crescendo. “Winter Snow” is a thoughtful passage, with melancholy features and an intense and deep vocal. The voices are stratified and in the second part an instrumental section with the electric guitar that offers a cue from the dilated sounds, on deep fretless bass lines. Guitar arpeggios with hints of the Mediterranean characterize the short “Mirage,” which increases in intensity with the passage of the piece. With fine textures, a short but very intense passage. “The Turning of The Glass” begins with a layered choral vocal and the guitar joining the percussion to create a great, more acoustic mold section. Rhythm and symphonic features merge, and then in the second part alternate more symphonic parts with others with a soft rthymic session. In the finale the track closes with a crescendo of orchestrations and rhythms and the choral vocal. The electric and acoustic guitar are intertwined in the intro of “I Dream U” with a deep bass and percussion, creating a dreamy atmosphere (like the title). Enriched by a rhythm with oriental features, with percussion, in the final part we add the winds that accompany us to the final with softer sounds. The longest track “Long Tailed Flight” closes the album with over 7 minutes of duration. With interweaving of violin and Flamenco guitar, it is permeated by the sounds of the Mediterranean that blend with a more energetic rhythmic session than the previous ones. A succession of tempo changes, sophisticated plots with arpeggios and the fusion of multiple genres, styles and influences, make this piece original, passing from more rhythmic parts to more symphonic ones. a disc with refined sounds, which shows another facet of Prog sounds, not of a classical mold but with a personal touch given by the musical experiences of the artists involved. Another good chapter in Martin’s discography and his project, with a prevalence of high-level acoustic sounds, managing to mix multiple influences and styles with ease. He also intensifies the vocal parts, with thick lyrics, a definitely recommended and enjoyable listening.
Tracklist
01. My Muse And I (Overture) (03:04)
02. Going North (04:00)
03. Two Houses (02:42)
04. The Blue Door (05:12)
05. The Path Not Taken (02:35)
06. Winter Snow (04:32)
07. Mirage (02:04)
08. The Turning of The Glass (06:08)
09. I Dream U (05:33)
10. Long Tailed Flight (07:50)
Lineup
Kevin Laliberte / Flamenco Guitar, Electric Guitar, and Electric Bass
Drew Birston / Fretless Electric Bass and Acoustic Bass
Martin Springett / Guitars, Bass, and Vocals
Sari Alesh / Violin
Special Guest:
Wayne Kozak / Saxophones, Soprano Sax solo “I Dream You”
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