J.M.D.: Waking Sculptures

It’s interesting that while at first glance the main instrumental focus on Waking Sculptures would appear be keyboards and synths, the photo of J.M.D. (a certain Jonathan M Dexter from Wisconsin) on this project’s bandcamp page finds the composer and multi-instrumentalist with a bass guitar strapped over his shoulder. In many ways that tells you the real lead instrument here and one that is handled, let me tell you, quite supremely. Now, to be fair, I’m probably doing JMD’s keyboard work on this nine track instrumental examination of the shared human condition, a genuine disservice because they really are, as often as not, the true focus as they build huge soundscapes, offer up interesting melodic asides and fill out the musical view with skill and ease. And yet, time and again I’m left listening to the roaming bass work on “Omnes Resurgent� or “Circular Patterns� and wondering if a certain Chris Squire had a hand in proceedings before he sadly left us - yes, the bass playing is that good. Now, where a lot of these one-man projects fall down is through their questionable programmed drumming, but here Oliver Zisko, who has a huge variety or previous credits in a number of genre-styles to his name, brings an authority behind the kit that alleviates any of those issues right from the get go. He’s sympathetic to all of the tracks’ needs, while still being given enough room to express himself, and he doesn’t waste that opportunity.

Unsurprisingly, those above features lead much of this album to have a very strong Yes without the guitars and vocals like flavour, but that’s no bad thing because the lack of those two other crucial elements allows a more distinct identity to form, even if you are left in little doubt as to what inspired them. The sound across the album is first rate, immediately inviting you in to what is an energetic and bright collection of music that raises the spirits while engaging the mind. From the mid-paced winding swirl of “Sentient Sculpted Man� to the almost frenetic “Hit The Ground Running� or the closing grandeur of “The Last Great Awakening� the standard never drops and unlike some ‘immediate’ albums, I’ve found going back to Waking Sculptures as rewarding as my very first visit. If instrumental 70s inspired progressive rock is your thing, this is a release you really should be holding close to your heart.

Track Listing
1.Omnes Resurgent
2. Hit The Ground Running
3. One For All And All For Nothing
4. Undercurrents
5. Circular Patterns
6. Sundrian
7. Sentient Sculpted Man
8. Overtones
9. The Last Great Awakening

Added: February 16th 2024
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: JMD @ bandcamp
Hits: 724
Language: english

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