From the vault: Steve Cochrane - The Purest Of Design


STEVE COCHRANE
The Purest Of Designs (1998)
(Spirit Compass Music SC103)

'My goal in life is to communicate a sense of optimism in our world - to project the image of a hero, not only as a character to be viewed, but also as a part of each of us, something to be experienced - the best within us. I try to create a musical picture of what should be and express the conviction that it is possible.' - Thus Steve Cochrane.

With the Purest Of Designs this Canadian multi-instrumentelist releases what is already his third album, although he is still pretty much unknown in the Netherlands.
His greatest inspiration comes from listening to the music of Rush, Renaissance, Mike Oldfield and Steve Hackett. After listening to this wonderful album I think I can include the Wind and Wuthering period of Genesis in this small list as well. Much of the atmosphere of the music harks back to this album, and several keyboard and guitar parts bring back to mind Wind And Wuthering. The opening track "To The Glory Of Man" and the 16 minute plus final track "The Promise Of The Music" are the instrumental tracks on this album. "To The Glory Of Man" is guided by the instrumental tracks of Wind and Wuthering, while "The Promise Of The Music" more or less marks a journey through the work of Steve Hackett. Opening like the acoustic work from albums such as Bay Of Kings, Guitar Noir and A Midsummers Nights Dream and building up to the earlier work like Spectral Mornings. The Purest Of Designs can best be described as a dream album. The album is very positive and brings back the memories of the late seventies prog.

Tracks:

To The Glory Of Man
When Music Speaks
Songs For Spring
Dreams Of Reason
The Promise Of The Music

Notes:
* This review comes from 1998 and was first published in iO Pages

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