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

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