Transatlantic – Live At Morsefest 2022: The Absolute Whirlwind – Album Review
1st May 2024To randomly quote a caped crusader, ‘Holy prog overload Batman’! From the band who clearly believe that if something is worth doing, then it’s worth over doing, comes this truly epic package. Weighing in a colossal four-and-a-half hours, this thirty-eight-track monster takes you through some of the finest moments of Transatlantic‘s twenty-five-year recording career.
For the uninitiated, Morsefest is a two-day festival curated by American Prog legend Neal Morse, largely featuring his one of his many projects each year. In the past Spock’s Beard, The Neal Morse Band, and Flying Colours have been center stage. However, in 2022 his prog rock supergroup Transatlantic finally made an appearance. And both of their shows that weekend are documented here.
In addition to featuring a different set each night, they performed two of their classic albums in full over the weekend. The Whirlwind on night one, with the superb The Absolute Universe, the following evening. And, as if that wasn’t enough, there are also at least two tracks from each of their other albums are too. If you’re a fan of these chaps, then this five CD, two DVD set really is the motherload!
While there is no disputing the quality of the music on offer here, it’s superb throughout, I do have one gripe about this package. This is the FIFTH version of The Absolute Universe I have now. Indeed, after the two versions originally released back in 2021, The Ultimate Blu-ray version and The Final Flight Live In Paris version, do I, or indeed does anyone seriously need another? Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a pleasure to listen to it, but it would be a hardy progger to debate the merits of each version in comparison to the others. And, to be honest, I’d run a mile from any such conversation!Score: 8/10
Tracklisting:
1 – Into The Blue
2 – In Held (Twas) In I
3 – Shine
4 – We All Need Some Light
The Whirlwind
5 – Overture Whirlwind
6 – The Wind Blew Them All Away
7 – On The Prowl
8 – A Man Can Feel
9 – Out In The Night
10 – Rose Colored Glasses
11 – Evermore
12 – Set Us Free
13 – Lay Down Your Life
14 – Pieces Of Heaven
15 – Is It Really Happening
16 – Dancing With Eternal Glory / Whirlwind (Reprise)
Absolute Universe
17 – Overture
18 – Reaching For The Sky
19 – Higher Than The Morning
20 – The Darkness in The Light
21 – Take Now My Soul
22 – Bully
23 – Rainbow Sky
24 – Looking For The Light
25 – The World We Used To Know
26 – The Sun Comes Up Today
27 – Love Made A Way (Prelude)
28 – Owl Howl
29 – Solitude
30 – Belong
31 – Lonesome Rebel
32 – Can You Feel It
33 – Looking For The Light (Reprise)
34 – The Greatest Story Never Ends
35 – Love Made A Way
36 – Bridge Across Forever
37 – The Final Medley
Release Date: 26th April 2024
Label: Insideout
