Lands End - Lower Depths (2005)

We could call Lands End the first "aquatic progressive" band. The fact that they live on the shores of the Pacific Ocean seems like it has quite inspired these musicians and we find many allusions to the sea in their albums. Starting from rather simple neo Progressive rock, they built their own style made of energetic guitar assisted by keyboards, over which added vocals. Their music is very progressive, somewhere in the middle between Pink Floyd, Genesis and Yes, and the musicians don't hesitate to adventure themselves into long instrumental jams.

On their second release "Terra Serranum", the band mixes beautiful calm melodies with more uptempo progressive rock which allows the talents of Fred Hunter keyboards and Francisco on guitars to shine. "Drainage" is a compilation of live performances in California and Mexico between 1996-98. On "Natural Selection", they perform a lyrical and elaborated Progressive rock with refined and powerful melodies. This is a release of 74 minutes of pure quality music. Their music appeals to fans of The Moody Blues, Ritual, Steve Hackett and Pink Floyd.


In 1991, there was a group called Spiritual Endings that included Sean Villaros and Mark Lavallee. In 1992, after a few personnel changes, including the addition of Fred Hunter, they changed their name to Fainting in Coils. That name did not stay around a long time, since before the end of the year, the group, by then a three-piece, changed its name to Lands End. By 1994, they released their first CD, Pacific Coast Highway. The next CD by the group was 1995's Terra Serranum on a new label, Cyclops. This was followed in 1996 by An Older Land, which was mostly earlier material that had not yet been released. Next up was their finest disc, Natural Selection. Released in 1998, the disc was two years in the making, and it was brilliant enough to be worth it. In 1999, the group followed up with Drainage. Drainage was a live album that included some material that wouldn't fit on Natural Selection.


First of all, when it comes to getting ones monies worth, Lands End really comes through. Two discs of top-notch progressive rock played with passion, skill and a keen ear to melody and nuance, and more than a few surprises. Lands End pulls out all the stops.

Interestingly, Lands End has not been together in the same room since 1998. The Lower Depths was recorded from various parts of the globe. Las Vegas, UK, Rio de Janeiro... a very global album, no? Not all of the tunes are strictly Lands End, in a "band" sense. Some collaborators were called in to paint their signatures on the overall portrait of modern prog. All to good effect, I must say. The Morrigan's Cathy Alexander adds some smooth, silky tones over Fred's deft keyboards on Digital Signatures and New World Order. Francisco Neto steps aside for Sphere3's guitarissimo, Steve Anderson, who duets with Cathy on New World Order and solos exclusively on Indoctrinated. Bruce Soord adds his Pineapple Thief touches to a radio- friendly Why Should I? This tune could pull down some chart attention on the college circuit. Bruce and Cathy add a certain quality that should open Lands End to a wider group of prog fans. To add another "strange" note, Why Should I? was penned by Francisco Neto and Jeff McFarland and neither appear on the track... Limelight dodgin' and open minded proggers? Whoddathunk, eh!

Jeff McFarland, one of my fav modern prog vocalists, makes his presence heard through the Lower Depths. Jeff combines alternative vocal timbres with prog's lyrical wit. Making statements, both political and emotional, with heartfelt zest. You can feel the belief in his words. Some older Lands End tunes resurface on disc 2. Eyes of Venus and This Addiction brush the shoulder lint away as they breathe fresh air. Acquiesce to the Martinets Precept, clocking in at 53 minutes, shows off Lands End's penchant for the epic. A kitchen sink tune, which allows each member the space to explore his craft in depth, or should I say Lower Depth, in an open format. This track requires a huge amount of the listeners time and should be heard a few times to capture it's grandeur. Massive, yet compelling. Neto's parts should garner special attention. The guy ROCKS with wild abandon. Recommended to lovers of the EPIC, creative nature of progressive rock. Lands End delivers in spades.