BRUCE MAIN: Layers

Cover	Release	Style
	2005	symphonic singer-songwriter
	Label
	self-financed
	Website
	www.brucemain.com
	Contact

	Playing Time	Cat. N°
	49:09	0961 9
	Review by	Rating
	Christoph	6/10
nederlands	Review
Bruce Main is a veteran from the American seventies prog outfit Medusa. Subsequently he started a career as sound engineer. But the itch was still there, so in 2004 his first solo album “Tracks” was issued. And now his second just hit the shelves. “Layers” is in his own opinion “a quantum leap forward.” I can’t be the judge of that, since I haven’t heard his preceding record. But in tracks 1 and 3 you can hear this man has a passion for sound recording. As to the music, “Layers” fails in keeping the interest going. Either Main forgot to build up things to a crucial moment, or he drags on and on. In short: this record never peaks. It all flows very nicely though, and the diverse influences are well used. The guitar in “Celebrity Circus” recalls David Gilmour’s aggressive fretwork in “Empty Spaces”. In fact, the whole theme and atmosphere remind us here of Pink Floyd’s legendary “The Wall”. The historical epos “Gwendolyn” develops in a smooth Camel/Jethro Tull vein, especially when the flute comes in. On the lyrical front, things show a lot of engagement. In the tradition of the singer-songwriter, Main comments on political and cultural issues. He sharply observes the media (“Celebrity Circus” and “Lies”) and looks at the medieval crusades in the light of recent events (“Gwendolyn”). And there are some (auto)biographical elements as well, like in “Father” and “First Second”. This variety of topics should add up to the quality of the album. Unfortunately, a booklet with lyrics is missing. Another minus is the mediocre singing. What a shame! Still, this record earns respect. Musically, it does have its moments, and the recording is good enough. And why not buy this CD just for the sake of the artist’s independence, since a healthy sale still enables him to make artistic choices in a free spirit? And that’s something you don’t get much anymore in today’s celebrity circus.
Musicians
Brian Phraner: bass guitar, harmony vocals Bruce Jones: flute Bruce Main: all other instruments and vocals, sound field recording
Tracklist
Carnival Celebrity Circus Carnival Too First Second Gwendolyn Father Lies You Don’t Know
Discography
Tracks (2004) Layers (2005)


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