Album review: UNITOPIA – Covered Mirror Vol.1

Bird’s Robe Records – (Release date 31.10.12]

Covered Mirror – or to give it its full title ‘Covered Mirror Vol.1 Smooth As Silk’ is Adelaide proggers Unitopia’s paean to some of the tracks that have influenced the band over the years.

And if you’ll excuse the self-reference, it’s certainly an Eclectic Mix.

Following in the footsteps of every album of covers, some work much better than others. There’s an old saying that runs along the lines of ‘If you can’t bring something new to it – don’t do it’ and, it has to be said, a couple of classic tracks here fall foul of this adage.

One such is Marillion’s ‘Easter’ where the band have attempted an almost note for note tribute. It’s not that it isn’t any good, it’s actually a very good copy. But there’s the rub – it is a copy and you may as well dig out the original in all its majesty.

However, there’s plenty of stuff on the album onto which the band really has stamped its own personality.

There are two medleys in particular that stand out as really a bit special. The ‘Genesis Medley’ which includes ‘The Silent Sun / Supper’s Ready / Dancing With The Moonlit Knight / The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway / Carpet Crawlers’ is fabulous, as is the ‘Yes Medley’ with its mash-up of ‘Awaken / Close To The Edge / Soon / And You And I / Onward / South Side Of The Sky / Owner Of A Lonely Heart’. Both clock in at over ten minutes, both are worthy testimonials.

Other highlights include ‘Zep’s ‘The Rain Song’, Supertramp’s ‘Even In The Quietest Moments’, a great take on The Korgi’s ‘Everybody’s Gotta Learn Sometime’ and, believe it or not, a fantastically progged up version of The Carpenters’ ‘Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft’.

The playing throughout is faultless – you would expect nothing less from Australia’s finest progressive rock band.

Unitopia have turned in a pretty fine effort here which, despite the occasional faux-pas, is an album that has obviously been put together with much care and genuine reverence for the originals.

More than a tip of the hat must go to Ed Unitsky’s terrific artwork, which includes a visual reference to every track on the album and for the sleeve notes which give enlightening explanations for the tracks chosen.

****

Review by Alan Jones 

Alan sequences “The Eclectic Mix” third Sunday of the month on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio


Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Josh Taerk Sunday Sessions 2024

Latest session: Sunday 25 February
Next session: Sunday 14 April

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio



David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 March 2024.


UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 5 March 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com


Power Plays w/c 18 March 2024

GYPSY’S KISS We’ve Come To Play
FM Out Of The Blue (Frontiers)
SHOTGUN MISTRESS Shot Down (indie)
ATTIC THEORY Violent Delight (indie)
FLOYA Yume (FiXT)
SAHAJI Tell Me All Your Feelings (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 18 March 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 LEAVES’ EYES Myths Of Fate (AFM Records)
14:00-16:00 HOLLY LERSKI Sweet Decline (indie)


To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to a Twitter account



Popular (last 10 days)


This entry was posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS and tagged , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply