Mike Stiskal : bass, keyboards, acoustic guitar, percussion, background vocals

Joshua Ramirez : lead vocals, drums, percussion

Kevin Forsberg : lead, rhythm and classical guitars

Guests : 

Sean Grant : lead vocals on ‘Inner space’ and additional backing vocals

Heather Hightower : as ‘The ghost’

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73’07”

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progressive rock with AOR tendencies

You will like this if you like Styx, Baby Grand, Ambrosia, Boston

They’ve done it again and what’s more : this time the album sounds even better than their previous offering “Reason”. The same influences I mentioned the first time can once again be traced here with names such as Baby Grand, Styx, Ambrosia coming to the fore yet also with a dash of Saga and Chandelier added to make the band’s AOR sound even fuller. Once again they can’t shed off their Boston influence either with ‘Inner space’ sounding just like our multi platinum selling friends. And what about ‘The willow song’ which only needs producer Roy Thomas Baker to turn this into yet another blockbuster !

What strikes me is the fact that Scapeland Wish is only a trio yet they are able to turn their music into such a complete experience whilst still making sure that the vocals get the best treatment. A lot of bands should take lessons from these guys because I know plenty of bands with five people in the line-up who can’t come up with such a sound ! Sometimes though their songs do tend to become rather commercial too. Take ‘The highway’ as prime example as to how they get close to becoming a copy of the band America. Then again during ‘Reflection’ singer Joshua Ramirez tries his hand to become the new Steve Hogarth delivering a song which could also be a Marillion classic from around their ‘Beautiful’ era. With ‘Ostrich alternative’ and ‘Nemo’ the band delivers two superb instrumentals which perfectly illustrate the craftsmanship of each of the individual players.

Great songs, great singing, cool guitars, maybe a little tame in the drumming department and maybe not enough keyboards but “The ghost of autumn” certainly has become the kind of ghost that can visit me every night ... preferably when I’m all by myself !