MYSTERY

As well as Michel and Sylvain the band are Jean Pageau (vocals, keyboards, flute), Antoine Michaud (keyboards), François Fournier (bass, Taurus pedals, keyboards) and Jean-Sébastien Goyette (drums) and tonight was a celebration, a one-off event where they were performing in what the band call their second home. There are few progressive rock bands who use two guitarists in a rock setting, as many defer to metal or become something which are incredibly experimental, but here Michel and Sylvain have a wonderful understanding and the dramatic build to the entrance of Pageau on opener "Looking for Something Else" is simply superb.

Mystery are a band who utilise a lot of keyboards, but it is the guitars and songs which make them stand out so much, combined with a very powerful vocal presence. I played the triple CDs long before I put on the Blu-ray as I knew that once I started watching that then I would not want to return to the audio only, and I was right. As one would expect these days, there are multiple cameras giving us multiple insights, and the delight on the faces of Michel and Jean as they duet (guitar/keytar) is lovely. I firmly believe the last studio albums are the finest of their career to date, and this shows in the confidence being displayed on the faces of all those involved in this remarkable performance. Although their music is complex and multi-layered, there is always plenty of space and a huge use of dynamics and contrast so when they take off they really do, and are one of the most passionate and driving prog bands around.

I have been fortunate enough to be a fan of Mystery for more than 20 years now. If you already know the band then this is an essential purchase, and if you have yet to come across some of the most delicious and melodic progressive rock around then now is the time to jump in and investigate and this is the perfect introduction.

A Morning Rise opens the album with over a minute of instrumental acoustic guitars and flute lobbying the terroir for the upcoming Pride, the first epic of the album. Immense Neo Prog, immense guitar work (not a surprise there) and immense rhythmic section with an outstanding and masterful D'Virgilio. Great lyrical content and beautiful vocalizing by Beno't David, easy to understand why YES recruited him at some point to replace legend Jon Anderson, his tone is high but very melodic and catchy, hypnotic at times. 11 plus minutes of wonderful guitar riffs and licks, memorable.

Superstar is a slow builder, a cross between space-like prog from acts like Pink Floyd and Camel but with that nostalgic feeling so characteristic of St-P're's music. The opening line clearly depicts the mood - After all this time giving up is such a crime, if you look beyond the lies you'll be amazed, the truth you will find - Sad and hopeful at the same time? I'll let you be the judge! The Unwinding of Time works as an overture for the mouthwatering title track The World is a Game. I just can't get it out of my head! That I write with my recommendation back then, a BBB song I called it, brilliant bright and beautiful, and I feel exactly the same way still. Besides the already praised guitar work, the vocals and the drumming we now find ourselves also immersed in St-P're's piano-guitar inner t'ndem leading the way to an spectacular Neo Prog explosion where drums, bass and drilling guitar soloing collide in hooks so memorable it hurts. - You hold the world in your hand like a child with a ball, do you realize? You point a finger then you say one word and we fall, but who's the winner after all? - I'll move on before a make this review a sequel to the song recommendation.

Dear Someone accompanies the title track building together the most catchy and melodic 13 plus minutes of the album. Definitely radio friendly material and probably considered by many just as a power ballad but to me is much more than that, it was the first song that grabbed me and made me come back for further listens of the album and it does refreshes it a little before it enters its more complex and less bright moments. Musicianship is less virtuoso but flawless. I think the small flute interventions are genius and add an extra layer of beauty.

Time Goes By might be the saddest sounding tune here, but nothing is as it seems and the keyboards and guitars will take that feeling to a dark and inquisitive level. A very good song that becomes greater once the rhythmic section takes over to lead all instruments to the finale. Again, what Nick brings to the table elevates the musicianship of the band (or duo project at this point of time) unquestionably.

Another Day is the closer and clocking slightly under 20mins contains everything one would expect from a Neo Prog act that's evidentially highly influenced by legends as Jethro Tull, Pink Floyd, Genesis, etc. The guitar sounds like a chainsaw opposing classic piano playing before the track enters an atmospheric weird symphonic moment perfectly interpreted by all musicians. Imposible not to hear/feel a Locomotive Breath unique rendition here in a way only Mystery could do it, combining it with melodic and catchy hooks, product of a genius. Heavy metal in its more pure form intervenes and leads the song back to the initial mood only with an uplifted tempo, and it goes back and forth, back and forth, and then Antoine Fafard who has been unconditionally tied to Nick's playing suddenly emerges with a powerful bass display to enhance the final quarter of the track. Michel St-P're is a magnificent guitar player and very talented song writer, and this album is amazing! THE END

Another excellent Canadian Neo prog band, with some symphonic and metal nuances but mostly melodic and bright. For some reason I find some classic heavy metal influences on this band, from acts such as Scorpions maybe, I think Benoit's vocals are the ones giving that familiar "look and feel" throughout this album. Majestic and Magical, the melodies here are so brilliant and beautiful that could have been easily taken from the same script as Jackson's We are the World and Heal the World...yes, that's how beautiful they are. However is even better than that because those same melodies are placed inside a circle of progressive and symphonic moments that inevitably wraps the listener never letting him leave and guaranteeing a full musical experience.

The enchanting and dreamy trio of songs that follow the album's intro are suddenly disrupted by the only song that I consider a filler in this particular album, Kameleon man, not that I dislike it at all, is just that I don't feel it belongs here. The +20mins suite "Through Different eyes" is definitely the pinnacle moment of this amazing record with outstanding guitar playing by St-Père and lyrics so deep they will still be playing in your head hours after the first listen. Then the last trio of songs lead to a mellower but darker sound letting it fade and leaving the listener craving for a second round. Beautiful piece of art, strongly recommended!

My problem with Destiny?, however, is still the same as in their previous album but this time exacerbated by the lack of evolution that this second work needed, but is not to be found.

The compositions and the sound of the album are still very anchored in the 80s, which would not necessarily be a bad thing if it were accompanied by some moderately interesting compositions, which does not happen in most of the album.

Which also does not exactly help is the voice of Gary Savoie, too monochromatic, old-fashioned and high pitched for my taste, being in my opinion a run-down version of Steve Perry, lead singer of Journey.

By that I don't mean that Destiny? is a bad album, but surely Michel St. Père managed to make it much better on successive albums, leaving these first two efforts as early works where the band did not fully exploit its potential.

In any case, if you are interested in the 80's progressive rock with tons of AOR influences, maybe this Destiny? will appeal you, but I found it boring on successive listens!

Best Tracks: Destiny? (again, guitar riffs and melodies influenced by Savatage, and the AOR of the 80s), Queen of Varja Space (the best song on the album, featuring a subtle, delicate and quite catchy chorus) and Submerged (the most intense song on the album, skimming hard rock)

My rating: **

In terms of style, Theater of the Mind presents us with a group quite anchored in the AOR sound of the 80s, some scraps of metal from the 90s in the Savatage style, but that also leaves us some influences from the 70s such as The Inner Journey, which It sounds a lot like Deep Purple, and Black Roses, with some snippets of Jethro Tull.

The pity is that because of its retrograde style, old-fashioned keyboards, and a production that's not very brilliant either, this full-length debut from Mystery sounds a bit dated nowadays.

However, if you are fond of 80s AOR bands or 90s Neo-Prog bands in the vein of Arena's Songs from the Lion's Cage or the early Everon records, you will probably enjoy Theater of the Mind.

Although it is better that you do not expect anything too spectacular!

Best songs: Black Roses (the most complex and progressive composition on the album), In My Dreams (I'm not very fond of ballads, but this one is very good) and The Inner Journey (Part II) (I love the Pendragon charm it gives off, and the bass melodies during the verses)

My Rating: **

YES, Yes, I know what many may think but this is nothing like 'Yes' and Benoit David's vocals are far removed from his performances with 'Yes'. There are times when he hits those high notes but by-and-large his vocals are very AOR. This compilation from 'Mystery' offers the songs from the three albums Benoit David appeared on, however, it is the tracks culled from the album 'One among the Living' (2010) which are most appealing as they include the likes of; John Jowitt, Richard Lanthier, Oliver Wakeman and Daryl Stuermer. The lead guitar of Michel St-Pere is superb throughout with some beautiful nods to Floyd, especially on 'Dear Someone' - on which Nick D'Virgilio drums. This is a great collection for the curious and perhaps a similar set from current vocalist Jean Pageau would be welcomed by those not wishing to attain their entire catalogue and compliment 'At the dawn of a new Milliennium' which features former vocalist Gary Savoie. Only gripe is the lack of a booklet although relevant information appears on the digi-pack.

But far more importantly they are played with real verve and panache. A thoroughly enjoyable ride. Even 'Chrysalis' from 'Lies and Butterflies' didn't fall short as I stated on the review of the studio album release. Always pleased to hear the sumptious 'The Sailor and the Mermaid'. However, it is impossible to pick out a stand out track (or the opposite) an excellent album.

More than happy to give it the full 5 stars.

Even before putting this into the player one knows it is something special, as the artwork from Tomek Zaczeniuk is majestic and also demands we ask questions about the back story. The same is true of the music, which demands we pay attention and listen to every element of what is going on. They combine together to create a majestic whole, but every musician is producing moments of excellence and finesse throughout. Michel St-Père and Sylvain Moineau have a strong understanding of each other, with lush harmonies and interaction. Antoine Michaud provides the perfect support whether it is piano or waves of synth, rarely taking centre stage. Then of course there is bassist François Fournier who continues to pin it down, which is just as well as drummer Jean-Sébastien Goyette can never be relied upon to keep a simple snare and hi hat rhythm as he needs to add his touch to everything which is going on. He does not over play but is a key part of the overall Mystery sound. Then of course at the front is Pageau, full of enthusiasm and confidence, and together the quintet produces some of the most majestic prog around.

They have come an exceptionally long way indeed since the first two albums back in the Nineties, and they keep growing as a unit with wonderful songs and performances. The Canadians have done good and let us hope it's not long until the next studio album.

Sound-wise Mystery's 'One Among the Living' (2010) combines a classic AOR sound with modern neo- progressive music. The vocalist Benoit David rose to fame as lead-singer of a Yes tribute band and was asked to fill in John Andersons spot in Yes during their 'In the Present Tour' and the recording of 'Fly From Here'. At the heart of Mystery's music we find multi-instrumentalist and producer Michel St-Pere, who has worked with different line-ups to further the band since its conception. The album has a long list of guest musicians, but I would never have guessed it when listening to this very cohesive, professional and well though-out album.

On paper this could never have worked for me; part AOR sound, Yes / John Anderson style vocals - and no less then 70 minutes of it. Yet this album grabbed my full attention from the moment it started. An effect that reminds me of how hypnotized Arena's 'Contagion' still gets me. The often dubbed high-pitched vocals of Benoit in echoey landscapes create a real atmosphere. During acoustic moments it reminds me of that magical space-folk sound. Its great to hear such a great produced album that can summon that 'obscure' feel. The band can also rock out at moments, with guitars that have that Metallica twin guitar edge. On 'The Falling Man' the band goes as far to create a perfect neo-prog meets Black Sabbath doom track, which is chilling! Whereas the band at first glance sounds like an AOR group, this association starts to vanish when familiarizing with the record. Neo-prog records are seldom better then the detail of their production, and I would say this is one of the best produced - and detailed - records of the genre. All of the genre clichés may be present, but the band treats them with awareness and usually comes up with an interesting twist. The ability to really grap a person with a performance surely is early Marillion's strongest asset, yet so many bands get lost in keyboard one keyboard part after another. Here almost all the songs have that quality to achieve individuality with strong performances of good melodic pieces. The album's mandatory epic 'Through Different Eyes' is a strong succession of songs. Furthermore, it shows proper restraint. The parts could work on their own and do actually improve in their successive impact.

Conclusion. Though this album by Mystery has received much praise at the time, it is actually overshadowed by its (to my ears) lackluster formula-prog successors. On this album Mystery (Michel St-Pere) showcases a deep 'knowing' and appreciation of the genre. The production sounds great in the living room, headphones - even in my small car. In my opinion 'One Among the Living' deserves to be mentioned along-side with the better works of Arena, IQ and Pendragon.

What about a vinyl re-release? Please..?