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Cuppa Joe Records [Release date 01.08.22]
This is one of those strange albums where the song intros are the most impressive aspect. Once the vocals cut in, the promise dissipates.
Joe Macre has a lot to answer for. He mainly provides bass (high in the mix, but no Chris Squire) and all vocals which, to be frank, are an acquired taste. As with similar solo offerings he would have been better getting a dedicated vocalist as he has done in terms of dedicated guitarists.
But there’s another issue with this album, the production is poor. A good producer and engineer may have rescued this or at least provided objectivity. And yes I am aware that Macre was inducted into the board of directors for SPARS (Society of Professional Audio Recording Services).
Only Chris Elliott’s guitar provides some musical respite but to be honest he is p—g against an ill wind, a bombast of Macre’s multi-tracked vocals and equally unimpressive programmed drums and (real) bass.
Macre used to be in the progressive rock band Crack The Sky and apparently their debut album was well received, not least by Rolling Stone magazine. Since then he’s released a solo album ‘Bullet Train’ in 2021. The latest offering has been described as “prog” but it is perhaps more accurately “prog pop”.
Compare and contrast with another journeyman bassist Chuck Wright who this year has released one of the year’s best albums. Given also Macre’s historic access to “name” musicians, there is absolutely no excuse and certainly no contest.
‘The Dream Is Free’ can only remain a vanity project and not for wider consumption. Dream on. **
Review by David Randall
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