Down Fresh Avenues

Alan Parsons - A Valid Path
(Artemis Records)
Reviewed: Sept. 25, 2004
4 1/2 stars (out of 5 stars)

Review by Andy Argyrakis

When hearing the name "Alan Parsons," one might automatically recall his "Project" identity that spawned the Chicago Bulls theme song "Sirius," and pop hits like "Eye of the Sky," "Games People Play" and "Prime Time." To the more linear note focused, Parsons work as an engineer/producer is by far even more regarded, including credits on The Beatles classics Let It Be and Abbey Road. However, it was his collaboration with Pink Floyd for Dark Side of the Moon over which he's received the most acclaim, including a Grammy Award from ten total nominations.
Several decades have elapsed since sitting behind the boards for other artists and it's been a decade since the Alan Parsons Project's demise, but that hasn't kept this mastermind stagnant. He's been creating solo works ever since, often introducing the world to some of the finest session musicians and upcoming vocalists through album's like 1993's Try Anything Once, 1996's On Air and 1999's The Time Machine. Unlike the somewhat scattered Time Machine (which pitted programmed enhancement against lush balladry) the brand new A Valid Path cuts straight to the electronic chase. But better than just trying to brew up a previously unexplored genre on his own, Parsons teams with some of the niche's best (like The Crystal Method on the thumping "We Play the Game" and Uberzone for the rain drop saturated "L'Arc En Ciel").
Fans of Floyd should especially freak with an appearance by guitarist David Gilmour, who adds psychedelic guitars to the chilled out pleasantry of "Return To Tunguska." On a more modern note, singer/songwriter P.J. Olsson (who was signed to Columbia a few years back) adds his raspy vocals to "More Lost Without You" and "Chomolungma" (the latter of which also features a spoken word cameo conclusion by comedian John Cleese). The unconventional send off is just another example of Parsons' refusal to be limited by labels, nor be locked in either his affluent 70s sounds or 80s radio commonality on a record that forges down several fresh avenues.