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Review Summary: This is an excellent and enigmatic album with a 70’s sound. This album has been called a kind of a reunion of U.K., the late 70’s prog supergroup. “Book Of The Dead” is the eponymous debut studio album of K2 and was released in 2005. The line up on the album is Ken Jaquess, Shaun Guerin, Alan Holdsworth, Ryo Okumoto, Yvette Devereaux, John Miner and Doug Sanborn.
K2 is a project of Ken Jaquess of the L.A. based progressive rock band Atlantis, formed during the 90’s. They recorded two CD’s, “Atlantis” in 1997 and “Pray For Rain” in 2003. The members of Atlantis are currently on a hiatus or working on other projects. Wanting to recreate the 70’s classic symphonic progressive rock sound and to help fulfil his musical vision, Ken searched for the musicians who could master the vintage sound of the instruments of that musical period and embarked on a new musical journey that eventually end with the release of K2’s debut album, “Book Of The Dead”.
K2 began quite by accident in 2001 when Jaquess asked drummer Sanborn to play on some new music he was working on. Having no idea if anything would come of these sessions, they set out to record a bold and daring project that would soon take on a life all its own. So, Ken and Doug had laid the foundation for an epic album of high musicianship, complex compositions and haunting themes. Ken invited other musicians to help him to create this musical project and over the next four years, Holdsworth, Guerin, Okumoto, Devereaux and Miner added layer upon layer of unique, signature sounds that resulted in K2’s first album. Sadly, just after recording his vocals, original vocalist Guerin died.
“Book Of The Dead” is a conceptual album based on ideas and stories taken directly from the Egyptian “Book Of The Dead”. Since his youth, Ken has a huge fascination with the ancient world and with all older their civilizations. It was instilled by his mother. He always had love and fascination with ancient Egypt and particularly with “The Book Of The Dead” which is the name given to the ancient Egyptian funerary text that comprises a collection of hymns, spells and instructions, to allow the dead pass through all the obstacles, in the afterlife. With ideas and stories taken directly from the original book, Ken has weaved an intricate and an ornate tale of rules, about death and the ultimate journey of men.
“Book Of The Dead” is progressive rock music simple and pure. Ken plays some strong bass parts that undoubtedly reminded me of Squire. Jaquess’ bass sound gives the music a kind of a Yes feel, whilst his Mellotron playing evokes strong references to Genesis intensified by the lead vocals of the late Guerin. His voice has the same timbre and the same diction Gabriel had in the early 70’s. Maybe the latter sang a bit more emotionally. Many lovers of progressive rock music know Holdsworth for his guitar work on the first eponymous UK album. His style of playing is unique and is easy to recognize on this album. The fine guitar parts we hear might as well have been studio outtakes of UK’s debut studio album. The fantastic violin passages performed by Devereaux, reminded me of the way Jobson played this instrument in UK. But we can also hear on the album some jazz rock elements in the finest tradition of Jean Luc Ponty.
The album is divided into five songs presented as chapters, with a total time of 46 minutes. Maybe the album’s length is a bit short in comparison with most albums nowadays but all pieces are performed very tastefully. About the tracks, “Chapter 1: Infinite Voyage” is a grandiose and epic theme and represents a fantastic voyage in time and sound, which carries us to the times of the ancient Egypt. “Chapter 2: Mirror To The Spirits” is a track with a dramatic opening and continues the grandeur of the previous, with plenty of great instrumental work, provided by all musicians. “Chapter 3: The Edge Of Light” is another great track in the same vein of the previous two, is a very tasteful song with great violin work and with plenty keyboard sounds. “Chapter 4: Aten (Window Of Appearances)” is an instrumental track very beautiful that explores the ambient music through the keyboards and the bass guitar, what makes it seems a bit mysterious. “Chapter 5: Cloak Of Antiquity” concludes the album in a very good way, with great violin, floating keyboards, good drumming, emotional vocals and all this atmosphere is a nice epilogue for this excellent project.
Conclusion: This is a very interesting project served by a handful of fine musicians. The final result is an excellent debut album. In almost 47 minutes, you are taken along a journey that features all the elements of the era in which progressive rock music was invented. It means that you are listening to many musical traces of great progressive 70’s groups, especially Genesis, UK and Yes. Still, the musical traces of Genesis are particularly evident, mainly due the similitude between the voices of Guerin and Gabriel. However, you can also enjoy of modern jazz rock influences. Undoubtedly, I really salute this splendid album and I recommend it, very strongly, to everybody. Finally, a very special reference to Holdsworth. I always admired his unique guitar style. He was known for his advanced knowledge of music, incorporating a vast array of complex chord progressions and intricate solos. We really lose a great legend. R.I.P. Alan.
Music was my first love.
John Miles (Rebel)
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Album Rating: 4.0
As happened with some other great artists, that unfortunately passed away, here it's also my homage to Allan Holdsworth. Unfortunately, it's here a bit later of what should be, but it wasn't possible for me, to do it before. But, as we say, is better late than never.
Why I chose this album to homage Allan? Mainly due to three reasons. First, it was my intention to review this project for awhile, so I had already added the band on Sputnik some time ago. Second, because I love the album and I really think that it must be beter known, since even in the prog world is a bit unknown too. Third, because from what I know, this is the last great project in which Allan had participated. I must confess that I hesitated a bit because there are many other things to homage him, especially the debut studio album of U.K., perhaps his best and most known collaboration. Still, I preferred to chose an unknown and most recent thing. Besides that, it has all the ingredients of the U.K.'s album. It has Allan, and despite it hasn't the other artists of that album, he has the main characteristics of it. Somehow, we can say that "Book Of The Dead" is a kind of a more modern version of the original album.
So, I hope you enjoy it too.
R.I.P. Allan.
As usual I wait for your comments, especially in cases like this.
P.S. With this album I started a series of reviews about less known or even unknown prog albums, artists and projects that will be published in the next weeks. So, I hope you can be interestd and enjoy them too.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
The risk to cover some unknown albums is that people can fail to care about it. It's all fine that you give interest to those albums that deserve some love, but don't be surprised about the lack of visitors.
Personally, I'm not that impressed with Book of the Dead. I find it's a bit bland. It could use of more colors, and more great melodies. It's a bunch of great musicians that are trying to put substance into ordinary music. To me, they could have used of some more work in each of their tracks. I'll give another chance to the album, but for now, I couldn't give more than a 3/5.
Good review and good homage, bro. RIP to Alan, the legend.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
According to you and from what I read, it seems to be an interesting thing. A kind of a U.K., MK. II. Interesting. I'll check it, soon as I can. Anyway, pos for the review. I enjoyed read it.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Sorry Jethro, but I became without access to this site since I put the review until now. I don't no why. Sometimes it happen but only for short periods of time. Nothing like this, for so long. So, only now I'm going answer to you.
"The risk to cover some unknown albums is that people can fail to care about it."
I know that. It was a "calculated risk". As you know, I like to review known and unknown albums, if I have interest in talk about them. The only surprise is that I expected more views. You know, some curiosity about it. About comments, it wasn't really a surprise.
About the album, I always loved it. As you said, it has a bunch of great musicians on it, especially the guitar work of Allan, which is excellent, as always. Besides that, I can agree with you that the album could be a better work. In reality, it isn't propely a masterpiece. But the album always had a very strange and special feelling in me. I always felt on it a very special feeling a kind of a very misterious aura. As if the mystery of the Ancient Egypt and the mystery of the afterlife is present all over the album. So, in a way, I think the music reflects, perfectly, the spirit and the concept of the album. I have listened to the album dozen of times and I continue having the same feeling. So, I continue to be a great fan of the album and of K2.
Thanks, bro. Allan deserved it. I think it was always a bit, an underrated musician.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
@ Intruder
Go ahead, man. I really hope you enjoy it. I think a little love for this project suits right.
Thanks again, man.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
No worries, e21, everybody went through this. The site crashed down 3 days this time. All because of the site's server that is not enough performing. If the administrators would not change it, the problem would keep on being recurring.
For my next listen, I'll try to be more open minded and try to capture that mysterious aura you're talking about.
I don't think Alan is underrated. He made himself a name in the jazz fusion realm and developed a fan base with his prolific solo career. He has his own special way to play the guitar, and I guess it's not for everyone's taste, but personally, I think he is inventive and the way he touches notes and its sounding are really seductive.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
I didn't know that. Nice to know that probably the problem is finally solved.
Ah, hum, maybe it was the main reason why I had so few "clients" on my review.
About Allan, I know that he is a very respected artist in the jazz rock/fusion world. He worked and influenced so many guitarrists in the world, and some of them are between the biggest. However, this prog sub-genre is relatively less known, comparativelly to other prog sub-genres. His name barely appear in any list of the 100 greatest guitarrists ever, which is perfectly unfair. For instance, on Sputnik, an album like the debut of U.K. has only 69 ratings, despite some of the bigest prog names, appear on the album. Even in a specialized prog site, Progarchives, that album has only 85 reviews which isn't much, compared with so many other prog albums. So, it was in this context that I say that. As you said, despite he was a great performer, perhaps more important than that, he had a very own and recognizable style. And for me, a great artist, must have a very own and recognizable style.
Cheers, buddy.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
^You pick up good points there, e21.
''Ah, hum, maybe it was the main reason why I had so few "clients" on my review.''
It surely didn't help of course.
As for U.K., I always felt that a certain amount of the prog community in general didn't realize who exactly was playing the guitar for that album. I was personally satisfied that Holdsworth was involved into such a prog rock band. He also brought a welcome jazzy vibe in places into it.
Cheers, man.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
"It surely didn't help of course."
Of course. Of course I was joking.
About U.K., you're absolutely right. He brought really a great but different atmosphere to the album, the jazzy vibe. And that wasn't so strange, because besides Allan we mustn't forget the presence Of Bruford, another artist strongly influenced by that style of music. It was even Brufurd who propose and invited Alan for the project.
P.S. Nice rating to the album. You continue being more strict than I, and I maintain my usual benevolence. What is sure is that it seems we keep our usual "coherence".
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
Yeah you're right. I was to mention Bruford as a jazzy vibe provider but overall he is more guided by Wetton's bass and he is more in the rock equation than in the jazz one for that album. He offers big amount of complex beats surely inspired by his colleague Allan, though. The work of Bill Bruford is really impressive and diverse in there. He progs hard. Bruford and Holdsworth sound more jazzy in Bruford's solo albums, that's for sure.
About our ratings, they are often the same, and if they are not, you are barely point five more generous than me. So I might be more severe than you hahah
K2 gets better with each listens, but I think 3.5 is the best I can give. ''Infinite Voyage'' takes an infinity to go through, and it's not a good sign. It tends to be jam rock more than prog rock. Would be better with more energy, more clever arrangements. It's not enough compact and melodic. It contains a few great passages I confess. I can get the mysterious aura you're talking about, but it's not that much present for me. It's a question of feelings I guess. The rest of the album is from good to great. ''Mirror to the Spirits'' has a pretty great melody.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
"K2 gets better with each listens"
I'm very glad that you think that.
'''Infinite Voyage'' takes an infinity to go through'
What do you expect? As its name indicates, it's an infinity voyage, without return. Ah, ah, ah.
I'm very glad that you can felt the misteruious aura I mentioned before. However, 3.5 is a nice rating too. Anyway, as you said, it's all a question of feelings, I guess.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Yeah, K2 gets better with each listenings. I am not sure about the rating yet. But I could feel the mysterious feeling you mentioned. I will continue listening to it and I will tell you something later.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
I'm very glad that you feel that. And that you could feel the mysterious aura mentioned by me. You're always welcome bro. I'll be very happy if you decide to share with me your feelings about the album.
Cheers.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Thanks guys.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Sorry but I was very busy and only now I had time to listen to both albums of K2.
You was right. This is a great album. It has the spirit of the 70's, the spirit of U.K. and spirit of the ancient Egypt. I agree with Jethro too. The album gets better with each listens. A solid 4.0. Again great work, pal.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Thanks, man. I'm glad you like the album. It's a pleasure for me to see that some members of Sputnik appear to comment the album.
Cheers, and no problem with the delay.
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