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Landmarq: Origins
Landmarq Origins CD Album Review

Landmarq: Origins

Melodic Progressive Rock
4.5/5.0

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Synergy / Cherry Red Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 26.06.2014

With their anthology, Origins, England's Landmarq wants to put you into a false dilemma, forcing you to make choice you may not need or want to. The substance of this anthology is basically two CDs, one features early recordings with original vocalist Damian Wilson, the other with more recent work with female vocalist Hitchings.

Landmarq Origins Band Photo

Landmarq:: the current line up.

Would you choose, could you choose between the two for your favorite vocalist? Again the choice is not necessary as this anthology merely represents to different eras for the band. Fundamentally, the core substance of the band, classic melodic and progressive rock, has never changed. However, if a flaming hot banana was held to my head, I would probably opt for Damian. But, if Personal Universe was playing somewhere in the background, I would succumb to suggestion and choose Tracy. That light lilting voice, that moves between childlike and angelic, is more than a little persuasive.

As for the actual song content, the selection for either era is notable (see track list at the right), songs any fan would point to and enjoy as Landmarq signature songs for both vocalists. Because I have few of their early albums, I was drawn to the Damian songs first. For the Tracy CD, you get live versions of four songs including Between Sleeping and Dreaming, Tailspin, After I Died Somewhere, and Heritage. They're really good, but sound nearly immaculate and sterile as if they may have been manipulated in the studio. Finally, there's one new song, Origins, which swings between large feisty moments and gentle segues. In the end, it's fine collection of Landmarq songs, and may introduce more recent fans to their older work, which is always a good thing. Yet a few more new songs would have been appreciated. Recommended.


Landmarq - Personal Universe





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In Short

Origins is fine collection of Landmarq songs spanning the two different eras with two different singers, and may introduce more recent fans to their older work, which is always a good thing. Recommended.

TRACK LIST

DISC ONE - THE TRACY YEARS
1. SCIENCE OF COINCIDENCE
2. LIGHTHOUSE
3. BETWEEN SLEEPING AND DREAMING*
4. TAILSPIN (LET GO THE LINE)*
5. AFTER I DIED SOMEWHERE*
6. HERITAGE*
7. TURBULENCE (PARADIGM SHIFT)
8. PERSONAL UNIVERSE
9. ORIGINS (NEW SONG)
* LIVE VERSION

DISC TWO - THE DAMIAN YEARS
1. KILLING FIELDS
2. FOREVER YOUNG
3. BORDERS
4. SOLITARY WITNESS
5. TA JIANG
6. EMBRACE
7. PINEWOOD AVENUE
8. NAROVLYA
9. BED OF NAILS

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