I saw the Australian band Voyager play at ProgPower Europe in 2006. What I remember about them is a lively performance and a dynamic front man standing behind an enormous keyboard-synthesiser in the middle of the stage. “The Meaning of I” is now their fourth full album release.
This album develops in style during its course, but I think it’s fair to say that it is a set of catchy songs. Although of a pop orientation, there’s a sophistication in the melodies which make it “Prog” rather than “Power”, at least for the first 6 tracks. Integral to this is the clarity of sound, both instrumentally and vocally. The lyrics are crystal clear, interesting and highly personalised, which I guess fits in with the theme of the album’s title. It’s noteworthy too that there is a track “Iron Dream” which is dedicated to the late Peter Steele. I sensed an affinity here with Type-O-Negative in the way that the music is Metal, but follows its own unique and personal course and style, irrespective of what might be the “appropriate” genre.
A “momentary relapse of pain in the face of adversity” is hardly the subject for entertainment, I wouldn’t have thought, but this opening track is nevertheless typically colourful and larger than life. The drum beats rapidly and darkly. There’s plenty of melody, yet it’s not happy: “I feel so empty”. The theme becomes more dreamy on “Stare into the Night”: “Lonely nights take me down to the riverside”. There’s still a real-life quality about these lyrics which are sung as if we’re there. There’s a pumping beat, a bit of electro and it’s as ever catchy so the music isn’t left behind. My favourite track of this album is the third one, “”Seize the Day”. It’s a brilliant pop song, catchy and melodic, and unashamedly so. The timing is great and the beat is heart-warming. Voyager seem to be one of those bands like Amoral who are ostensibly Metal but use a combination of Pop, Power and sometimes Progressive structures. “Broken” is sing-a-long stuff, yet it’s musically sophisticated. The keyboard and drum work are colourful. The band moves on with “He Will Remain”. It’s slower, personal – “I seek to find” and highly dramatic. This is for more than Metal fans. I’m not convinced that fans of Andy Williams will come flocking out to buy this album but it’s accessible and the song develops into a Big but accessible sound. The short title track “The Meaning of I” has great impact. The soundwaves and thought-provoking lyrics create an edgy atmosphere. The singer’s strong voice is great whether he’s pumping out a rich pop song or a personalised one. There’s an air of uncertainty as the singer enunciates the line “He will remain .. as one of us”.
The direction then changes as we have four Power Metal-orientated tracks, including “Iron Dream”, a Power/Pop song which ends bizarrely with a mock chant at the end. I’m not sure why there was the need for a short German track “Feuer Meiner Zeit” especially as it seems to be followed by the English equivalent “Fire of the Times”. Softly triggering drums accompany the Swedish style Power Metal rhythm. It’s not a greatly memorable song but at least there’s a consistency about the soft power vocals as there’s never any attempt to be aggressive. The mood changes again. “She Takes Me” has the makings of another strong song but doesn’t go anywhere and is a bit dull. The same is true of “It’s Time to Know”. The album’s long enough to do without these two tracks which don’t seem to have the same purpose as the earlier songs. To end, there’s a Type O style track “Are You Shaded”. It’s edgy, has musical complexity and the personal touch which is always a feature of this album.
It’s clear that Voyager are an accomplished band and know how to write strong, catchy and personal tunes. I can’t say that I liked all of it and felt that it trailed off after some really strong beginnings. I’d have found it more enjoyable with a better-balanced track list. “The Meaning of I” does show a number of different sides to this band, and whilst its occasional pop orientation may not appeal to everyone, the band don’t hold back in giving full expression to their compositions, and the album is much better for that.
http://www.myspace.com/voyageraustralia
http://www.voyager-australia.com
http://www.lasersedgegroup.com
Andrew Doherty
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