There is nothing groundbreaking or original, however, this album is a pleasurable listen.
Light Freedom Revival is the brainchild of Vancouver born singer/song-writer John Vehadija. The Canadian was interested in poetry from an early age and his love of music developed. In a Jon Anderson-esque quote, Vehadija believes the force which guided him to record this album and present it to the listener came from a very clean and honest place of positive light imagination! He is joined by Billy Sherwood (ex-Yes, Asia) on guitar, bass, drums and keyboards (Sherwood must be the most prolific musician on the planet), and he also co-produced the album with Vehadija as well. Oliver Wakeman (ex-Yes) is on lead keyboards and Eric Gillette (The Neal Morse Band) features on lead guitar. Finally, Marisa Frantz adds harmony vocals.
Vehadija wanted the songs to reflect his belief that we are all "passing through quantum stargates by simply making decisions about where our lives are going, and our minds are slowly learning to use a sort of a holographic customized reality operating system. That is for me the true Ascension into the Eterniverse". Heavy stuff indeed, but what is the music like? Opener 'New Lightspace Age' is reminiscent of Yes in the late nineties 'Open Your Eyes' period, which is hardly surprising as Sherwood was part of Yes at the time. Vehadija sounds like a cross between Anderson and Trevor Horn. The music is very commercial with Gillette adding a neat solo.
'An Idea Of Freedom' is a catchy number with some trademark bass lines from Sherwood and lovely vocal harmonies from Frantz. 'Where Words Fail' is another very accessible tune with lots of layers of keyboards, a restrained guitar solo and more excellent bass work. The album is full of tracks in this vein, all of them being five to six minutes in duration so no truly extended Progressive tracks or lengthy workouts. 'Place Of Power' features some excellent, haunting keyboard work from Wakeman Junior.
'Go Amplify The Feeling' has a kind of Country vibe to it and as such is the only track which sounds different to the rest of the album, that is not to say that 'Eterniverse Déjà Vu' is predictable – it's not and with repeated plays you hear something new. There is nothing groundbreaking or original, however, this album is a pleasurable listen and the artwork by Ed Unitsky is stunning!
Az Chaudhry
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