Space Elevator - Persona Non Grata (CD)

Eight years after their debut album, Space Elevator has created a remarkable third album with "Persona Non Grata." The album features eleven outstanding tracks written by lead singer The Duchess and guitarist David Young. The songwriting draws on the musical influences of the biggest and best bands in history, but with a modern twist, creating a unique sound for Space Elevator. The songs are rooted in the classic rock genre, but also feature elements of pop, prog, and even funk, as in "Love You Better."
After the cinematic intro "Persona Non Grata, Part 1" with its blend of acoustic guitars and strings, the immediately following Part 2 really gets things moving. Heavy guitars and hard drums, along with the aggressive vocals of The Duchess, blend into a complex and dynamic sound worth listening to, showcasing the band's instrumental skills. The progressive interplay of vocals, which in some sequences would fit into an opera before shortly transforming into a rock roar, and guitar playing, which at times borders on hard rock, combined with the strong rhythm section, create a compact, fat sound with shifts in style and tempo. The band manages to intertwine these changes within the songs in such a way that there are no breaks.
The musical affinity to Queen's early work is obvious, but also echoes of Kate Bush, Genesis, and even modern icons like Pink can be heard. For example, The Duchess's strong vocals in some songs are supported by partially self-sung choral backing vocals, for example in "Duchess Of This Town," which Queen also used as a stylistic device. The core band, consisting of Drummer Brian Greene, bassist Chas Maguire, and guitarist David Young are joined by piano and keyboards by Michael Bramwell, who, along with producer Adam Vanryne, contributes a bombastic and theatrical style often found in the grooves of Alice Cooper, Jellyfish, or Led Zeppelin. Space Elevator, however, remains true to their own unique sound, distinguished from the mainstream by their songwriting and collaborative sound.
The closing "Reverie and Souvenirs" transforms halfway through from a power ballad into a sixteen-bar music-hall jazz, with The Duchess contributing exquisite harmony vocals. The listener is surprised by the variety of rhythm and style changes, which flow seamlessly into one another and showcase some clever compositions and arrangements.
What's interesting is that when listening, some things only become fully apparent on the second or third listen, the album doesn't lose its appeal and thus invites you to listen again.
In this form, Space Elevator can fill a gap left by the veteran bands among fans of classic and progressive rock music and bring a breath of fresh air into this scene.

01 Persona Non Grata, Part 1
02 Persona Non Grata, Part 2
03 Duchess of This Town
04 Passive Aggression
05 Stevie Nicks Smile
06 First Girl on the Moon
07 Ritchie (See You Later Baby)
08 Cheeful Frank
09 Love You Better
10 I Will Hold On To You
11 Reverie and Souvenirs