Prog Radio | Album Review | ''Aboard the Good Ship'' by Zoomst

Album Review

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Stars

Aboard the Good Ship

Zoomst

789

USA

Zoomst's debut album "Aboard the Good Ship" is a striking entry into the realm of crossover prog and art music, heralding from the vibrant cultural hub of New Orleans, Louisiana. This conceptual odyssey not only demonstrates the band's adeptness at blending a multitude of genres but also showcases their novel approach to album releases, choosing to issue the album in three parts, each consisting of three songs. This strategy, which appears to replace traditional single releases, presumably aims to sustain audience engagement over a longer period, an intriguing experiment in today's fast-paced music consumption culture. Smart move.

The album unfolds a rock opera set in a sci-fi parallel universe, engaging listeners with a storyline that critiques modern-day vices such as late-stage capitalism and media manipulation, while still holding onto a thread of optimism about humanity's potential for unity and progress. The narrative is ambitious and coupled with a sonic landscape that is a melodic amalgamation influenced by the likes of Queen, Genesis, and Muse, peppered with elements of funk, hip-hop, and symphonic rock, all while being laced with electronic soundscapes.

They certainly have our attention here at Prog Radio! This is definitely one of the most interesting releases so far this year and a significant addition to the prog and art music scene, offering a fresh perspective and an immersive listening experience. I look forward to following this band...

Production quality on "Aboard the Good Ship" is top-notch, with Zoomst teaming up with Joe Kalb, and featuring a diverse array of guest artists adding richness to the album's texture. From Mike Dillon's percussive expertise to Miles Lyons' brass contributions, the album benefits from a spectrum of auditory hues and nuances, ensuring that each track stands out while contributing to the overall narrative arc.

The band, comprising Percy Cole, Ian Lloyd, Connell Rose, and Jake Gartenstein, brings to the table a dynamic and multifaceted musical expertise, which is palpable throughout the album's run. Their choice of Dockside Studio and Downman Sounds for recording reflects their dedication to capturing the essence of their music with the highest fidelity, and the masterful engineering and mixing by Joseph Kalb are evident in the album's polished sound.

"Aboard the Good Ship" by Zoomst is a compelling debut that promises to captivate listeners with its intricate narrative and eclectic sound. The album's unique release format, combined with its ambitious thematic content and musical diversity, speaks volumes of the band's innovative spirit and artistic vision. They certainly have our attention here at Prog Radio! This is definitely one of the most interesting releases so far this year and a significant addition to the prog and art music scene, offering a fresh perspective and an immersive listening experience. I look forward to following this band, I have a feeling we’ll be seeing good things from them.

As mentioned above, the nine tracks for the album will be released gradually, three songs at a time, to the music streaming services, like Spotify on March 8th, March 29th, and April 19th. (This review is for all nine of the tracks.) They have CDs that will be available at the six shows on leg one of their tour this month. CDs will be available online from their website starting April 19th. They also have plans for a vinyl release in the next year with a preorder program, which will be available through their website in the future.

Tune in to Prog Radio to hear the first three tracks in our New Music rotation, and then the additional tracks as they are released. We’ll also be featuring two of the tracks, one each day, in this week’s "What’s New Proggy Cats?" show on Monday and Tuesday.

5 Stars!