Mike Visaggio - Starship Universe (2006)Self-released

An American keyboard player has sent me his solo release stressing that this music was born out of divine inspiration. Mike is a representative of Christian progressive rock, but it was obvious just in the seventies and later when he played with such bands like Randori (progressive/fusion), Burning Rose (the Billy Falcon's group) and Strokers. That's why you shouldn't be astonished with his lyrics based on the Holy Scriptures.

We are moving to the music that is most important element here. Mr. Visaggio is responsible for vocals, keys, piano, organ, bass, programmed drums, orchestra, flute, brass and synthesizers, however Michael Murray played drums on three tracks. For the first time, I couldn't believe that Mike's stuff was released in the 21st century instead of thirty years ago. I don't lack the guitars not at all. I have only my doubts about a legitimacy of Mike's singing, since his music is enough diverse and absorbing our minds. To be absolutely honest, I think that Mike is an excellent keyboard player, but only an average singer. I also suppose that Mike's music created by a distinct bass guitar, a legendary Hammond sound and characteristically sounding Alesis synthesizer is enough rich to rivet the listener's attention. An influence of a golden trio Emerson, Lake and Palmer on Mr. Visaggio's music is undisputed, but Mike even didn't try to hide his inspirations behind our ears, and he carefully covered their track "Blues Variations" from "Pictures at an Exhibition". Another interesting idea is a cover of Richard Strauss' symphonic poem "As said Zarathustra" (1896; neoromanticism). It was rearranged by Eumir Deodato in 1973, but its leitmotiv was earlier used on soundtrack to Stanley Kubrick's "2001: Space Odyssey" (1969). Needless to write, the title "2001: Also Rocked Zarathustra" is a paraphrase of the original.

"Starship Universe" has raised my curiosity coefficient on Mr. Visaggio's artistic activity, especially as he has formed a new band Kinetic Element alongside a drummer Michael Murray and a bassist Matt Harris. Apart from aforementioned Emerson, Lake and Palmer, I can recommend this CD to the fans of Rick and Oliver Wakemans, and Vanilla Fudge as well. I think that the best way to understand Mike's music is closing our eyes and setting out on an interplanetary travel, haha.