Release
date: January 24th
2020. Label: eOne
Music.
Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Dream
In Motion
- Tracklisting
1.Dream
In Motion
2.Hollow
Dying Man
3.Once
Again
4.Enemy
In Disguise
5.The
World You Know
6.Toxic
7.The
Healing
8.Necropolis
9.The
Ugly Truth
10.Aqualung
Review
Legendary
musician Kirk Windstein debut album Dream In Motion is quite
different to his work with his legendary groups such as Crowbar, DOWN
and Kingdom Of Sorrow with the album being influenced by Seventies
Prog Rock, Hard Rock and Heavy Metal. The album is also more
reflective with Kirk writing some of his most personal lyrics and
music to date that allows Dream In Motion to have a more sombre
atmosphere that you would originally expect.
Though
that doesn’t mean Kirk has diverted from his trademark Sludge Metal
grooves. Far from it. This album does feature a high amount of
Sludge/NOLA based sounds but there dialled back a bit and the album
feels more emotional at the same time. I always worry when
Sludge/Stoner Metal musicians decide to release solo albums. As they
always tend to be far removed what the person is known for and mainly
be “Country” or “Americana” inspired albums. Most of those
albums don’t impress me but I have no issues with Kirk’s debut
solo album. Dream In Motion is a full on Hard Rock/Sludge Metal album
with a few surprises along the way.
Opening
song – Dream In Motion – opens with Kirk’s trademark “NOLA”
groove before moving into Progressive/Classic Rock territory with a
distorted Psychedelic edge. It’s a different style of music from
Kirk but also one that has an air of familiarity as well. Kirk’s
vocals are passionate and quite aggressive in places but still
allowing Kirk to try his hand at different styles of music. The
lyrics are excellent that impressed me from the start. The NOLA
influence goes into Seventies Prog Rock overdrive but you are treated
to some epic guitar riffs along the way. The song perfectly shows you
how the rest of the album plays out.
Songs
such as: Hollow Dying Man, Once Again and Enemy in Disguise allows
Kirk to create a world-weary Psychedelic and Gloomy sound with a
Post-Doom atmosphere being played on the opening stages on most of
the songs. The most impressive about this part of the album is how
comfortable Kirk is playing these different styles of music.
Long-time fans of Kirk maybe disappointed at first to hear the album
and it does take a few listens to fully come on board with the less
aggressive style of music that Kirk is known for.
The later stages of the album are perhaps the best moments of the album with Kirk showing a fine ear for creative detail with the music and lyrics combining for a haunting and original style of their own. The most surprising thing about this album is the cover version of Jethro Tull classic – Aqualung – on this album. As it’s quite different to the original though Kirk still retains the dark experimental tone that appeared on the original version.
The later stages of the album are perhaps the best moments of the album with Kirk showing a fine ear for creative detail with the music and lyrics combining for a haunting and original style of their own. The most surprising thing about this album is the cover version of Jethro Tull classic – Aqualung – on this album. As it’s quite different to the original though Kirk still retains the dark experimental tone that appeared on the original version.
Kirk
has been in the music business for over the last thirty years or so
and is very much part of the fabric of the NOLA Sludge Metal scene.
His influence can be heard in countless bands across multiple
generations. I hope Kirk will release many more solo albums in the
future as Dream In Motion is a super fresh record with a lot to say
and I want to hear more of this style of music from Kirk.
Dream
In Motion is a welcome addition to Kirk’s already impressive and
legendary output of material.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to Carl
at Action PR for the promo. Dream In Motion
will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via eOne
Music
from Jan 24th
2020.
Links:
