▄█████▄ ░█████▄ ▄████▄░█▄ ░█▄ ▄█████▄ ███▄██ ▄██ ▄█▄ ▄██████ ▄█▄ ▄███ ░████░██▀████▓ ▀██ ▄██░▀█████ ████ ███▓ ██████▓██ ▓███████ ███▓░▀█▀████ ███▓ ███▓ ▓███░ ██ ██▄ ▄██▓██ ▓███▓██░ ▓███░███░███████████▄ ███░███░ ███░ ▄███ ███ ▄█▀░ ████████░██ █████████▄ ▓██░███ ███▓█████████ ███████ ███ ███░ ███████ ███▓ ░██ ██ ██████▓ ░██ ▀██ ███░███▓██████ ███▓███ ███ ███ ████████░███░ ███ ██▄ ██▓███░ ██▄ ██░██▓ ███ ▀▀████ ███░███ ███ ███ ███▓░███████░ ███ ███▓██ ███ ███▓██▓██░ ███ ▓████ ███ ███ ▓██▓ ███ ███░ ▓██████ ███ ▓████ ▓██▄ ▓████████ ███ ▓███ ███ ███ ███░███ ███ ░██████ ███ ░████ ░███ ███▓███▓ ███ ░███ ███ ███ ██▓███ ███ ███▓██ ███ ███ ▓██▄ ███░███░ ███ ███ ███ ███ ░█████ ███ ██▓░██▄ ███ ▓█▀ ▓██▄ ███ ██░ ███ ██▓ ███ ███ ░███▀ ░█▀ ██░ ██ ░█▀ ░███▄ ▀ ▀ ▓█▀ ███░ ░█▀ ██▀ ██░ ▄██▀ ░█▄ ▄███▀ ░██ ░ ██ ▓░ ▓░ ██░ ▓█░ ░█▀ ▀█░ ░█▓ ░ ██ ██ Artist: Kenny Livgren ██ ██ ▓ █░░ ■█ Album: Prime Mover (Redux) █■ ░░█ ■ █▓▀ █ Year: 2008 █ ▀▓█ ░ █ ▓ Rel. Date: 2020-01-04 ▓ █ ▒ ▒ Genre: Hard Rock ▒ ▒ █▄ ░ Label: Numavox ░ ▄█ ░ █▄ ░ Source: CD ░ ▄█ ░ █▓ Type: Album ▓█ ░ ▓ █ Quality: VBR, 44.1kHz, Joint Stereo █ ░ ▓ ▓ █ █ ░ ▓ ▄ ■ ■ ▓ ■ ░█ █░ ▀ █ Prime Mover (Redux), the solo outing of █ █ guitarist/keyboardist Kerry Livgren, has █ █ accumulated quite the history. Originally █ █ released on Sparrow Records in 1988 under the █ █ title Prime Mover, the album was re-recorded and █ █ re-issued as Prime Mover II ten years later. The █ █ third and final version of the project, Prime █ █ Mover (Redux), came out in the fourth quarter of █ █ 2008. █ █ Prime Mover actually fell under the heading ôKerry █ █ Livgren/ADö. AD, the Christian group Livgren █ █ formed following his departure from Kansas in the █ █ mid-eighties, can trace its history to his second █ █ solo album, the 1984 Sony Records release Time █ █ Line. While Time Line initially started as a solo █ █ project, it culminated with the musicians █ █ performing on it ômorphingö into a full time band. █ █ Hence, AD was born. AD proceeded to record the █ █ Sparrow follow up releases Art Of The State (1985) █ █ and Reconstructions (1986) before its members went █ █ their separate ways. Prime Mover, which Livgren █ █ recorded to pay bills accrued by the disbanded █ █ group, was mostly made up of material taken from █ █ unreleased AD demos. █ █ So why re-record Prime Mover? In the words of █ █ Livgren: ôUnfortunately, it (Prime Mover) was done █ █ in a hurry, on a very low budget, and under a █ █ cloud of disappointment about the demise of AD. █ █ The thought occurred to me - they re-make movies, █ █ why not albums?ö Prime Mover II ended up being █ █ re-recorded on two EMU Darwins, two ADAT XT's, and █ █ an Apple Macintosh G3 using Digital Performer █ █ softwareö (Prime Mover was recorded on 24 track █ █ analog tape and then transferred to digital). The █ █ drum machine on the original, at the same time, █ █ was replaced by a real drummer. █ █ So why re-record Prime Mover II? Again, in the █ █ words of Livgren: ôThe best explanation I can █ █ offer is that, with time, the technology has taken █ █ such a leap forward that it became obvious to me █ █ that I could greatly improve both the quality of █ █ the recording, and in many cases the █ █ performances.ö The Prime Mover II tracks were █ █ transferred onto a 24-bit Workstation while most █ █ of the drums were re-played and the bass guitar, █ █ brass and woodwinds, for the most part, replaced █ █ with real players. A few additional background █ █ vocals were added as well. █ █ So what is the end result? Well, since I do not █ █ have Prime Mover II I cannot offer a comparison; █ █ however, I do own the first and third versions of █ █ the project and the results are, well, stunning. █ █ On Prime Mover (Redux) everything û and I MEAN █ █ everything û comes to life with the bigger and █ █ better sound: the low end is now thicker, the █ █ rhythm guitars weightier and the lead guitar and █ █ bass easier to discern in the mix. If you are █ █ like me and disappointed with the production to █ █ the original then this makes the project come with █ █ the highest recommendation. █ █ While progressive rock might be the most accurate █ █ description of Prime Mover (Redux), it is not over █ █ the top progressive in the same sense as, letÆs █ █ say, Neal Morse or LivgrenÆs recent work with █ █ Proto-Kaw. The album breaks down evenly between █ █ up-tempo tracks û ôDonÆt Pass Me Byö, ôFathers And █ █ Sonsö and ôIÆll Follow Youö û and those heading in █ █ a mid-paced direction: ôNew Kind Of Loveö ôOne █ █ More Songö and ôChildren Of The Shadowsö. One of █ █ the highlights to the project is the Kansas cover █ █ ôPortrait IIö, in which the lyrical direction has █ █ been changed from Einstein to that of Christ. █ █ Speaking of Kansas covers, Prime Mover (Redux) █ █ also features the five new songs that appeared on █ █ Prime Mover II, including the hard rocking ôFair █ █ Exchangeö (off Vinyl Confessions from 1982). You █ █ will also find a short instrumental (ôOut Of █ █ Opusö), two slower pieces (ôIncantosö and ôBrave █ █ Heartsö) and a straightforward rocker (ôItem 89ö). █ █ Prime Mover was recorded with only two original AD █ █ members, Livgren and vocalist Warren Ham █ █ (Bloodrock). Sitting out the project are co-lead █ █ vocalist Michael Gleason, bassist Dave Hope █ █ (Kansas) and drummer Dennis Holt. For Prime Mover █ █ (Redux), Livgren kept all of HamÆs vocal tracks █ █ while adding bassist Craig Kew (Proto-Kaw) to fill █ █ out the low end. █ █ The album gets underway to ôOut Of Opusö, a short █ █ (1:03) instrumental carried by symphonic █ █ keyboards. █ █ ôPortrait IIö is a cover of the Kansas classic █ █ ôPortrait (He Knew)ö (off Point Of Know Return █ █ from 1977). Musically, the song represents prime █ █ Livgren songwriting skills at their best, █ █ interweaving a copious melody with several █ █ tasteful stretches into instrumental territory- █ █ and creating quite the majestic atmosphere in the █ █ process. Lyrically, the song differs from the █ █ original (based around Albert Einstein) in that it █ █ now focuses on christ: █ █ He had a different idea, the Master knew the plan █ █ He could see into the future, a true visionary man █ █ The truth is all that He told us, He died but He █ █ lives again █ █ He will return to be with us, but who will be █ █ ready then? █ █ ôDonÆt Pass Me Byö stands out with its upbeat █ █ momentum. The song drifts forward from the start █ █ in a piano driven manner, gaining even further █ █ initiative as it obtains an animated chorus spiced █ █ up by a jazzy horn section. Woodwinds and a crisp █ █ rhythm guitar make their presence felt as does a █ █ bluesy lead guitar. ôDonÆt Pass Me Byö talks █ █ about running the race to win: █ █ So IÆm a little behind the race █ █ As long as I can place itÆs alright █ █ Before you walk youÆve got to stand █ █ Just take me by the hand and lead me home █ █ Your faith must live, proven by what you will give █ █ The last shall be first, water for all who thirst █ █ ôFather And Sonsö brings a lighthearted vibe with █ █ more woodwinds (during its mirthful verse █ █ portions) and traces of the acoustic (for its █ █ stately chorus). But the main highlight to the █ █ song is how the rhythm guitar moves to the front █ █ of the mix to drive its instrumental section █ █ (shored up by a jagged guitar solo). █ █ ôIncantosö, the first of the full length new █ █ tracks, slows things to a near standstill. █ █ Gradually moving its length to a crisp acoustic █ █ guitar, the song almost comes across with a █ █ medieval flair as a result of its regal ambience █ █ and occasional use of classical instrumentation. █ █ The smooth feel to HamÆs vocal delivery helps put █ █ things over the top. █ █ Non-stop hooks are delivered on ôIÆll Follow Youö. █ █ The song maneuvers its stately verse portions to █ █ an exquisite joining of keyboards and guitar, █ █ breaking out in up-tempo fashion upon █ █ transitioning to a catchy chorus backed by a █ █ distant piano. An extended instrumental section █ █ closing things out allows Livgren to showcase his █ █ riveting lead work. ôIÆll Follow Youö talks about █ █ doing exactly that: █ █ Searching horizons of hope █ █ For some long lost dream █ █ In one sweet moment IÆm █ █ Plunged into Your healing stream █ █ IÆll follow You, æcause You give me the desire █ █ IÆll follow You, leaving the world behind █ █ IÆll follow You, though You take me through the █ █ fire █ █ I know IÆll never be the same █ █ ôFair Exchangeö, the albums second Kansas cover █ █ (from the 1982 release Vinyl Confessions), is by █ █ far its heaviest piece. Livgren, appropriately, █ █ places the rhythm guitar at the forefront of the █ █ mix to create a hard rocking environs, █ █ particularly during its driving verse portions. █ █ As the song picks up in pace for its uniform █ █ chorus, in contrast, an accentuating acoustic █ █ guitar makes its presence felt. HamÆs gritty work █ █ on harmonica adds to the bluesy scene. "Fair █ █ Exchange" talks about the totalitarianism of a █ █ computerized society (and how people would be █ █ willing to give up their freedom in exchange for █ █ personal security and comfort): █ █ Fair exchange for your freedom █ █ Fair exchange for your life █ █ Hail the new perfect order █ █ Ending trouble and strife █ █ No one can refuse our offer, it's a fair exchange █ █ You're on file, our computer █ █ Know's what's best for you █ █ We will provide the solution, for the rest of you █ █ Safety and peace, the terror will cease █ █ Forget everything the fanatics tell you █ █ Now you can worship the leader █ █ All he wants is your soul █ █ Laid back, bluesy and tempered, ôNew Kind Of Loveö █ █ traverses its distance in soulful fashion as an █ █ organ joins with a spicy lead guitar. Vocal █ █ harmonies pay an abundant role during its easy █ █ going chorus. I enjoy the change of pace █ █ presented by this one, especially the saxophone █ █ solo found at its halfway point. Ham brings some █ █ heart and soul in terms of his vocal delivery as █ █ well. █ █ ôBrave Heartsö, another slower piece, brings to █ █ mind ôIncantosö but with more of a progressive █ █ edge. The song opens its first minute to an █ █ instrumental section carried by a keyboard solo █ █ backed by a trumpet. The rhythm guitar soon cuts █ █ in and carries things ahead ominously, a dramatic █ █ milieu prevailing as ôBrave Heartsö spans several █ █ changes in tempo û some symphonically charged and █ █ others moving at a near standstill û while Livgren █ █ adds a trademark run of moving lead guitar. █ █ The pace picks up for ôWandering Spiritö. I █ █ appreciate the contrasts presented by the song, █ █ ranging from low key verse portions to a chorus █ █ advancing at a spirited upbeat tempo. All the █ █ while Craig Kew lays down a foundation of sturdy █ █ bass lines. ôWandering Spiritö deals with the █ █ daily battles and victories that Christians face: █ █ Falling, but His gentle hand █ █ Lifts me again, and helps me to stand █ █ How can it be, there is so much rebellion in me █ █ Oh, Lord, set me free █ █ The lamp is burning, the table prepared █ █ For the wayfaring sonÆs coming home █ █ Oh, Holy Father come dwell in this place █ █ Or my wandering spirit will roam █ █ The mid-paced ôOne More Songö brings a █ █ complementary touch of the commercial. The song █ █ moves forward from the start with an acoustic █ █ guitar decorating the backdrop, making an even █ █ transition to an airy chorus in which abundant █ █ backing vocals play a prevailing role. Livgren █ █ closes things with more of his deft soloing █ █ abilities. ôOne More Songö delivers a faith based █ █ message: █ █ I found a love to fill my heart and itÆs █ █ everything I need █ █ Like a mighty tree that grew from a tiny little █ █ seed █ █ And the branches fill my life and the roots they █ █ run so deep █ █ IÆm holding on to the one thing I can keep and its █ █ Always another word to be said █ █ Always another symphony in my heart █ █ Never repeating ever so new █ █ Whatever the music, still I cling to You █ █ One so true █ █ Of the albums newer material ôItem 89ö is my least █ █ favorite. No, not bad but not quite up there with █ █ ôIncantosö or ôBrave Heartsö (not to mention ôFair █ █ Exchangeö). The song proves a groove heavy piece █ █ with its lively tempo and accenting hints of █ █ harmonica and organ. An acoustic guitar backs its █ █ uplifting chorus. █ █ The haunting ballad ôChildren Of The Shadowsö █ █ highlights a swarthy environs. A piano upholds █ █ the song throughout its sublime verse portions, █ █ the tempo not picking up until an ennobled chorus █ █ sustained by a fixed rhythm guitar is obtained. █ █ Poignant but reflecting elements of the classic, █ █ ôChildren Of The Shadowsö reminds me of ôGround █ █ Zeroö (from LivgrenÆs 1980 solo release Seeds Of █ █ Change). Lyrics need no further explanation: █ █ Ever remaining the chosen Son █ █ Given the name of the Holy One █ █ Through the centuries never changing █ █ From the present to the past █ █ By Your hand the future is cast █ █ What a tale the past would tell █ █ If the ruins could speak █ █ Through a glass we are darkly peering █ █ Knowing now what we seek █ █ ôT.G.B.ö, standing for Texas Gospel blues, as its █ █ moniker indicates, is a gutsy blues rocker. With █ █ a blend of piano and organ carrying the day, the █ █ song stands out with its decisive chorus û in █ █ which Ham again showcases the soulful side to his █ █ vocal delivery û and instrumental section █ █ featuring a red hot harmonica and lead guitar █ █ duel. █ █ It has always been my opinion that Prime Mover, █ █ irregardless of incarnation, is an understated █ █ album musically. As a matter of fact, I might █ █ rank it the stronger of LivgrenÆs four AD era █ █ albums but tended to pass on it in favor of Art Of █ █ The State (or Time Line) due to the original █ █ production limitations. That, however, has █ █ changed with Prime Mover (Redux) in that █ █ production is now a legitimate strength. The █ █ addition of five new tracks is icing on the cake. █ █ █ █ Kerry Livgren û guitars, keyboards & percussions █ █ Warren Ham û lead vocals, harmonica & woodwinds █ █ Craig Kew û bass █ █ Daryl Batchelor û trumpet █ █ Bryan Nelson û trombone █ ▓ ▓ ▒ ▒ ░ 1. Out of Opus 1:03 ░ ░ 2. Portrait II 5:50 ░ ░ 3. Don't Pass Me By 5:00 ░ ░ 4. Fathers and Sons 4:09 ░ ░ 5. Incantos 3:56 ░ ░ 6. I'll Follow You 4:37 ░ ░ 7. Fair Exchange 6:01 ░ ░ 8. New Kind of Love 4:04 ░ ░ 9. Brave Hearts 5:41 ░ ░ 10. Wandering Spirit 4:16 ░ ░ 11. One More Song 4:36 ░ ░ 12. Item 89 4:22 ░ ░ 13. Children of the Shadows 5:08 ░ ░ 14. T.G.B. 6:18 ░ ░ 65:01 ░ ░ ▒ ▒ ▓ █ ░ ▓ ░ ■ █▄ ░ ██ ▀█▄░ ▄▄▄▄▄ ▓ ░ ▄▄▄▄▄ ░▄██░ ░ ▀████▓█▄▄█████████▓░ ███ ███▓░ █████████▄▄██████▀ ▓ ▓▀▓ ▒███████▀▀ ▀████████▒ ░████████▀ ▀▀███████░▓▀▓ ■ ░ ▄█░█▀▀▄████▄▓ ▀█▀ █▓░ ▒▓█ ▀█▀ ▄████▄ ▀███▄░ ▄█▀░ ░███▀▀▀███▄ ▀█▒ ██▓ ██ ▓█▀ ▄███▀▀▀███░ ▀█░ █▀ ▓██▓ ▄███ ▀█▓ ████ ▒█▀ ▓███▄ ▓██▓ ▀█▓ █▀ ▓██░ ▒██████▓ ▀█ █▓ █▀ ▓██████▒ ░██▓ ▀█ ▒ ▄██ ░███ ▓███▓ ▀░██░▀ ▓███░ ███ ██▄ ▒ ░█▀ ███ ▄▀ ███▄ ▓████▒ ▄███▀▄ ███ ▀█░ ▓█▀ ▄██▄█▀ ░ ██████████████ ▀█▄ ██▄ ▀█▓ █▀ ████▀█▄▓░▄█ ▀██████▀ █▄▓░▄█▀█▄██ ▀█▓ ░ ▄ ██▀ ▀████▀ ▀█▓▀██ ▀████▀ ▀███ ▄ ▒ █░█▓ ██░ █░ █ ░██ ▀██▒█ ███░ ▒█░ ▄ ▓ ▒ ░█▒ ▓███ ░ ▓██ ░ ██▓ ██░ ░██ █▒ ░ ░█ ▀█ █▀ ▓ ░ ░