Album Name: Visionary Position
Artist: Panic Room
Year/Label: 2008 / Firefly Music
Review by Anna Maria Stjärnell
Panic Room consists of people who have played in Karnataka and Mostly Autumn, who are both leading names in British progressive rock. Their combined talents make for some interesting listening. Vocalist and flutist Anne-Marie Helder provides a strong presence throughout. The tracks are lengthy but with great appeal.
Electra City combines a rockin’ strut with a smoother finish. Jonathan Edwards piano assumes a jazzy sound.
Firefly is a soft track with superlative piano playing and a gorgeous vocal by Helder.
Apocalypstick is one of the album’s standouts featuring a world music feel and one of Helder’s most seductive vocals. Gary Phillips nylon guitar adds to the dynamic sound.
“I wonder what’s keeping my true love tonight” is an arrangement of a classic folk song, that soon takes a twist in the more progressive direction. Helder’s pure tune is well suited for it.
This debut is without doubt one of the best records in its genre for a long time.
Track Listing
1. Elektra City
2. Endgame (Speed of Life)
3. Firefly
4. Reborn
5. Moon on the Water
6. Apocalypstick
7. I Wonder What’s Keeping My True Love Tonight
8. Dreaming