Reviews of the music of Vertical Alignment
“Land and Sky”
The first advance single from Vertical Alignment’s long awaited “The Trail of Tears Suite” is finally available! And I'm very pleased to report that if the rest of the album is as well written, performed and produced as this song, then we are all being rewarded generously for our patience! The suite is a concept album telling the historic (and tragic) tale of forced relocation of civilized Indian tribes from their American homelands during the first half of the 19th Century. In the Cherokee language, the event is called “Nunna daul Isunyi” (The Trail Where They Cried), hence “The Trail of Tears.”
“Land and Sky,” the song that started the project almost 4 years ago, begins and ends with acoustic guitar and Cherokee flute. Of course, this is Vertical Alignment we are talking about, so it isn’t long before we are greeted by cool vintage prog-rock synth lines! Even so, the brief taste of this Native American styling fused to a modern symphonic progressive rock context is so rich that it leaves me wondering what additional American Indian instrumentation Peter J. may have up his sleeve for the rest of the album! Indeed, it even has me wondering whether Vertical Alignment might have an intricate acoustic song more fully featuring Native American sounds somewhere later down the road.
“Land and Sky” is a hummable ballad adorned with plenty of sophisticated vocal harmony parts and instrumental interludes. Once again, help is enlisted from an all-star C-Prog Rock cast led by Randy George (Ajalon, The Neal Morse Band) on bass guitar and piano and Dan Lile (Ajalon) on drums. David Wallimann (Glass Hammer) provides a guitar part on the chorus that is as intricately placed and catchy as its tone is big. This is clearly another winner for Peter J, Mike Florio and the rest of the band, further setting the stage for the upcoming release of a new 40+ minute epic Vertical Alignment track in the near future!
-Mark Stephens
Progressive Positivity Radio
“Native Son”
Vertical Alignment’s “Native Son” begins with a wall of thick, rich and soaring synthesizers. Then the precise drumming of Salem Hill’s Kevin Thomas greets us with a clever stutter shuffle of alternating 6/8 and 5/8 measures. Complex time signatures aside, at its heart the song is still an American heartland blues-rocker featuring scorching tasty guitar fills at every turn.
Which is quite appropriate, for “Native Son” is a tribute to the wit and wisdom of American Cherokee humorist Will Rogers. When this guy (who “never met a man he didn't like”) spoke, Americans somehow didn’t mind him stepping on their toes from time to time. Perhaps it was because of his even-handed sense of fairness. Nobody got a “free pass.” All of us were “equal opportunity targets” of his wry, pithy observations. More likely, however, it was because of the way he spoke, with a smile on his face and a genuine sense of warmth in his eyes capable of convincing us that perhaps he really did like us, even as he called upon us to better ourselves.
Here are but 3 of the many varied quotes that get sprinkled throughout the quick and catchy tune:
* People's minds are changed through observation, not through argument
* No man is great if he thinks he is
* Everyone is ignorant, just on different subjects
Of course, to really get the full picture, you'll need to pick up your own copy of the song and hear "Native Son" in all its jammin' blues rock glory!
-Mark Stephens
Progressive Positivity Radio
“Spot Upon the Sun”
This first 5 seconds sound like the logical next step from VA’s “LOST IN SPACE.” But wait! Good thing we fastened our seatbelts before lift-off! We are suddenly introduced to an unexpectedly fuzzy guitar sound! Dare I say sections of this song could even qualify as “guitar-based?!!!” (Not to worry, we still get plenty of the familiar orchestrated keys, organ and synth sounds we've come to love and expect from VA… But just check out the fuzzy guitar tone! Cool!)
While we also enjoy plenty of classic-style VA background vocals (a crucial unifying element of the VA 'sound' IMO…) check out the *new* tone on the “Do-do-do-do” background vocal sections! This polished sheen reaches a logical culmination at around 2:27, taking an ever-so-brief moment in the spotlight when (try as I might to avoid other band comparisons) I can’t refrain from describing them as wondrously “Yes-like!”
My favorite section of the song comes at around the 2 minute mark, where a chorus is repeated with very full host of background vocals supplemented by majestic organ accompaniment reminiscent of Kerry Livgren's better works… (There I go with the other band comparisons again. Sorry about that. Funny thing, though. It seems that reviewers often hear classic Genesis influences in VA - but not many seem to notice the Kerry Livgren connection. I get a certain Kansas/Livgren vibe from much of VA's work - even more so now with the great Mike Florio on lead vocals. But perhaps that is just me.)
At around 2:50 the organ takes a percussive role that fits the song like a glove. One sign of a good arrangement and composition is when various elements contribute to serve a greater whole - even if that means sometimes playing something “oh so simple.” That section works great to my ears.
And the songs ends with a Mike singing “brand new start!“ Wow. That line just makes me want to queue the song back up for a brand new start just so I can hear it again!
And all this happens in an action-packed three minutes and 55 seconds. That’s what I call making every second *count*. Great song VA!
-Mark Stephens
Progressive Positivity Radio
“Lost In Space”
Vertical Alignment’s latest CD, “Lost in Space,” is a musical tribute to the NASA space program. This mostly instrumental progressive rock album is layered with rich synthesizers and tasteful guitar solos by Pete Jorgensen. The album was originally conceived as a soundtrack to a NASA film called Return to Flight. Vocal contributor Mike FitzPatrick is a NASA Shuttle Flight Controller. Unfortunately, the film was scrapped due to Federal budget cuts, but the music remains, which is fortunate for us. It’s a tasteful album full of spacy sounds, melodious hooks, and fine musicianship, a fitful companion for a journey to the stars. Instrumental highlights of the album are the quirky opener, “Escape Velocity,” the smokingly upbeat “Heroes,” Mike Florio's trippy contribution, “The Viking Mission,” and the progressive dazzler, “Feel More Light.” The true gem, however, is the title track, which features the very Peter Gabriel-like vocals of the aforementioned Mike FitzPatrick of NASA. I recommend you blast off to ThunderSongs to purchase and/or download. Bring your space helmet.
-Dave Taylor, Virtuosity
“Signposts”
“…This is prog that has been multi-layered and incredibly well-arranged with wonderful vocals and hooks… The first time I put this on I was captured and knew that I was in for a treat. I have played this album countless times already and am sure that I will continue to do so… If you enjoy your prog symphonic with great vocals and music then you simply must investigate these guys…”
-Kev Rowland, Feedback #89, Oct 2006
“‘Signposts’ is awesome, in-your-face C-Prog! You all need to pick it up ASAP!” This is high prog rock at its best… With over 70 minutes of hot-off-the-press original spiritual progressive rock… ‘Signposts’ is sure to lead the way among the best albums of 2006.”
-Dave Taylor, Virtuosity
“…Overall a remarkable work. Very well done… there are many places on the album that I find beautiful and flawless…”
-Gene Crout, Audio Digital Enterprises and America Gomorrah, March 6, 2006
“Hi, Peter J -- what a blast from the past! You guys are a trip.”
-Stephen Lawhead, Lawhead Website, June 23, 2004