Jeremy - 2021 - The Road To Zion

(74:00; Jam Records)






















This 2021 release found Jeremy working with different musicians and recording in different countries. As normal, Jeremy provides the vocals and the majority of instruments, and here he is joined by Dave Dietrich (drums), Steffan Johansson (keyboards and drums), Oscar Granero (guitar), Carlos Vigara (bass) and Swordfish (synthesizer) appear on select numbers. Actually, Dave, Stefan, Oscar and Carlos all appear on opening tracks “Flowers In My Hair”, and only Dave appears on one other while Swordfish only plays on the second track, but what a track that is. Jeremy tends to concentrate on shorter songs but here the seven songs clock in at 75 minutes as two which are past 10 minutes and another two which are more than 19. The first of these is “Cosmic Journey”, one of two instrumentals contained on this album, which is also somewhat unusual.

The result is an album that may appear from the title to be one of his “Worship and Praise” series, and while lyrically that may be somewhat the case, musically this is very much one of Jeremy’s more progressive albums. This is one of the aspects which can make it difficult to really discover Jeremy’s music as he has released a great amount of material and one never knows before listening exactly what style of music is contained within as he is such a master of different styles. This time we have an album which asks to be played on headphones when the listener really has the opportunity to do just that as that is the way to get the most benefit out of it. Normally when I am reviewing Jeremy I mentioned influences such as The Byrds, but here we have Tangerine Dream, Pink Floyd, Jean Michel Jarre, Vangelis, and so much more. Mind you, get to the second instrumental “Crack The Sky” and you will find a rocker having fun and letting his guitar do the talking in an upbeat belter. The album closes with the title track, which at more than 22 minutes in length is one of Jeremy’s longest songs to date, yet somehow it never lags and one would never comprehend this is the work of just one many given how many layers and instruments are on it as it commences with folk and swirls around.

Yet another wonderful album from Jeremy Morris. I have no idea how he manages to keep up such a prodigious output, but long may it continue.

Kev Rowland, February 2024

Links:
https://www.jamrecordings.com/

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