Released by: Inside Out Music
Release Date: October 6th, 2023
Genre: Multi Instrumental/Rock/Prog
Line Up:
Trevor Rabin – All Instruments
Lou Molino – Drums
Vinny Colaiuta – on “Push”
Ryan Rabin – Percussion
Tracklist:
1. Big Mistakes
2. Push
3. Oklahoma
4. Paradise
5. Thandi
6. Goodbye
7. Tumbleweed
8. These Tears
9. Egoli
10. Toxic
Filed among releases that completely come out of left field and blow you away is this new one from Mr. Trevor Rabin, South Africa’s own and a long-time music composer for some very well-known movies, former Yes member, etc. The resume is certainly a full one for Rabin as he attempts to release an album with vocals, not just instrumental; his first solo album of vocal material in 34 years. An extremely talented singer, multi-musician, writer, and producer, Rabin has delivered some truly inspiring and amazing pieces of music.
This new one, “Rio,” is hard to grasp and categorize into any genre I’ve heard recently. The music here ranges from proggy and instrumental, as expected from him considering his last piece of music, but also showcases some amazing compositions that are very movie soundtrack-esque in some of the songs.
Rabin gained significant fame as the guitarist and vocalist for the British progressive rock band Yes from 1983 to 1994. During his time with Yes, he played a pivotal role in the band’s commercial resurgence, contributing to the albums “90125” and “Big Generator.”
Apart from his work with Yes, Trevor Rabin has also had a successful solo career, releasing several albums and contributing to the soundtracks of various movies. He is known for his work as a film composer, having composed the scores for numerous films, including “Armageddon,” “Con Air,” “National Treasure,” and “Remember the Titans,” among others.
Rabin’s work is characterized by his versatile guitar playing, encompassing elements of rock, progressive rock, and film music. He has received critical acclaim for his contributions to the music industry, both as a solo artist and as a member of Yes. This pretty much explains his new record, which is a fantastic piece of music for any music enthusiast. Everything here just flows so well.
From the Proggy and heavy rhythms of “Push,” great drums, by the way, to the emotional peaks of “Oklahoma,” with lyrics inspired by the devastating bombing in Oklahoma, to the AOR-esque melodic hooks in “Paradise,” this album is truly great. The superb guitar playing in “Thandi” is killer, with a nice upbeat groove. The solos here are mind-blowing. The organ/keys throughout the record bring flashes of Pink Floyd, and Trevor’s vocals blend in well with the overall compositions of the music. A great example of this is the theatrical mood in “These Tears”; this song could easily be part of a motion picture soundtrack, very cool.
In “Rio,” you have a complete amalgamation of rhythms and fresh colors that don’t imitate anything but the true power of Rabin’s creativity. I can see why he was so successful in the movie business on the composer side. He has clearly taken his time and paid attention to detail; the man can definitely compose a tune. Great, great stuff here. I would simply recommend this to any open-minded music fan who appreciates old-school Rock/Pop/Country/Prog delicacies and completely invests themselves in well-written, produced, and composed music of the highest quality. Check it out 100%.
Score: 9/10
Reviewed by: Shadow Editor
About Author
