SPACE NELSON: Don't Panic - Review by Andy Garibaldi (Dead Earnest)

They call themselves a "progressive rock band  from Detroit" - but there are eight songs in 32 minutes, what you'd call economical but effective guitar solos, keyboards used more as textural backdrops and a strong rhythm section. When you think about it, that's not a bad description of a band such as Rush, who wouldn't call themselves a prog band, play short tracks in the main and yet are loved by the prog-rock fraternity. This band don't sound anything like that, but they are in a similar position, if you get my drift. They write great songs, feature some sterling guitar work on well arranged songs, have a full sound thanks to the extra guitars and keys and possess a strong rhythm section that propels it all forwards. The vocals are more mid-range than anything with harmonies and choruses that really add spice, although you'll be hard pressed to find what you'd call a "hook" on any of them, so that while you're loving what you're hearing, it takes a few plays to get them inside your head. The arrangements are excellent, allowing the tracks to breathe and fly without any long-winded soloing or without going too near an overtly rock-based setting. Yet every song has an anthemic quality to it thanks to the huge-sounding production and those solid arrangements, some faster than others and all of them raising your adrenaline levels to some degree or other. Thanks to its length, the album is simply one sizzling song after another, all of them enjoyable and every one a song you'll want to hear again. It's not rock, it's not prog, it's not even psych - in many ways, it's none and yet it's all three. I listened to the whole thing in one sitting when doing the review and I suggest you do the same - you'll want to, for sure, and if you get off on the idea of Rush with a less high register vocal, then this will suit you down to the ground. Solid, strong and sheer quality.