Cosmograf - The Man Left In Space


COSMOGRAF
The Man Left In Space
(private release)

The joint venture with Festival Records took only one album, since with The Man Left In Space Robin Armstrong takes control in his own hands again, The results is a fourth concept album. Behind the story of a failed space mission the concept album explores the themes of aspiration, achievement, and the failures that our quest for success, sometimes brings. Maybe the themes are stodge, but the music turns it into a fine listening session. His companions on this journey are (well) known names from the prog scene: Nick D’Virgilio, Simon Rogers, Greg Spawton, Dave Meros, Lee Abraham, Steve Dunn, Matt Stevens and Dave Ware. Armstrong does all the vocals on this album and even his wife does some vocals on This Naked Endeavour. Specially the three longer tracks Aspire Achieve, the titletrack and When The Air Runs Out make clear that Armstrong, loves to play his guitarsolos in a Floydian way, which atmospherically deepen the story. The story is told from various points of view by Sam the astronaut, mission control and the board computer. Tom O’Bedlam again recites a poem, High Flight by John Gillespie Magee, during The Good Earth Behind Me, while the tasteful guitarparts of Armstrong ensure the right balance.The overall result is a pleasant and atmospheric album contained well thought and balanced tracks, which forms a beautiful musical sounding board against the background of the concept. Armstrong is a fine multi-instrumentalist, who knows exactly when to indicate his framework and ask assistance from talented companions to lift the songs to a higher level. The basslines of Lee Abrahams to thicken the sound on Beautiful treadmill, or the rhythm tandem of Nick D’Virgilio and Greg Spawton of Big Big Train in the instrumental The Vacuum That I Fly Through. The result is a very pleasant musical journey, which unfortuantly leads to Sam’s inevitable end.
 
Tracklist:
 
How Did I Get Here?
Aspire Achieve
The Good Earth Behind Me
The Vacuum That I Fly Through
This Naked Endeavour
We Disconnect
Beautiful Treadmill
The Man Left In Space
When The Air Runs Out

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