In talking to a friend who used to write album reviews, he is relieved he can now just sit and simply savor an album without the nagging primate resting on his shoulders of having to conjure a slurry of words to describe it. In the case of this second effort by former Spock’s Beard bandmates Neal Morse and Sweetwater’s Nick D’Virgilio, alongside Haken’s Ross Jennings, such a relaxed, worry-free listening attitude would be welcomed.

We know these three could pick up their many instruments and prog us all down to our knees until we are appealing for mercy from patron saint of all prog rock: St. Christopher (Squire). But that is not the goal here. As proselytes of Gentle Giant, vocal harmony arrangements have always been a key element in all these players’ projects. But here, we are to savor the harmonies as the main course. While I have difficulty finding a decent “Beatles’ fifth” when attempting to sing harmonies, these three make three-part minor seventh chords sound effortless, and judging from the videos of songs from the album, they are enjoying themselves immensely doing it.

“Hard To Be Easy” sends us off on a Stephen Stills’ “Love the One You’re With” kind of vibe. “Linger at the Edge of My Memory” is a great D’Virgilio piece, where they depart from any attempts of recreating an incarnation of Crosby, Stills & Nash and establish their own uniquely cool vibe for the remaining songs. 

“Tiny Little Fires” opens with a catchy glockenspiel opening hook and gives us little prog-ish flares with a chewed up time sig and some tasty Hammond organ leads. 

“The Weary One,” with its mellow smoothness and rich harmonies, is the harmonic flagship of this album. This piece is interrupted by two cool NDV-penned rockers, “Mama” and the Purdie-shuffling of “I’m Not Afraid.” 

After three more gentle harmony-laden tunes, we are treated to a couple of remixes, which seem a little redundant; not that I’m complaining or anything.

So, unless your twisted hobby is dissecting vocal harmonies, simply enjoy these tunes and let them take you where they will without overthinking the experience.