Kerzner isn’t simply copying–each of these songs sounds like it could have been found in the tape vaults of one of these great bands of past years–that one track left off a multiplatinum-selling classic rock record. It’s okay to sound like someone else, as long as it’s the right someone else, and the music isn’t merely derivative, lacking the quality of the original. And “New World” with its smooth prog-lite arrangement and achingly melodic chorus harkens to the heyday of Alan Parsons Project. “Ocean of Stars” is reminiscent of Porcupine Tree. The excerpt from “Stranded” is an almost too-perfect reproduction of Dark Side-era Floyd. And he’s created custom sound programming for Beyoncé and Rolling Stones tours. While Kerzner’s no household name, he’s worked with many who are: Madonna, Tom Waits, Smashing Pumpkins, Jon Anderson, Steven Wilson, Alan Parsons, and Neil Peart. The level of craftsmanship and the roster of top-notch collaborators brings to mind Brit Steve Thorne, whose excellent Into the Ether album is examined here.Īmong the prog rock notables making appearances on New World are Steve Hackett (Genesis), Nick D’Virgilio (Spock’s Beard), Keith Emerson (ELP), Francis Dunnery (It Bites), David Longdon (Big Big Train), Billy Sherwood (Yes) and Heather Findlay (Mostly Autumn). The 11-disc set comes with a booklet with brand new liner notes and the CDs are packaged in mini-vinyl card sleeves. The Complete Albums Collection features all ten official studio albums and also includes a The Alan Parsons Project’s fifth album called The Sicilian Defence which is previously unreleased. But as with all good progressive rock, the music stands on its own merit, regardless of whether the listener takes any notice of the overarching plotline. Sony are to release a new Alan Parsons Project box set in March 2014. The co-founder of progressive rock band Sound of Contact, Kerzner has produced a solo debut prog concept album that tells a story, set in the future, of a man making his way from desert isolation back to the domed city from which he came. Pink Floyd fans starved for good new material, rejoice!Īmerican producer/songwriter/keyboardist Dave Kerzner has given you the next best thing to a decent new Pink Floyd record that you’re likely to hear, and a work far more engaging than Floyd’s mostly-instrumental Endless River, also released in 2014.