The Artist One

Item: A Generation of Time VII
Author: Chris King

A Generation of Time VII

(1999)

Reviewed by Chris King

Bandcamp Apple Music TIDAL Amazon Music Spotify YouTube Music

Label independentThe Phantom Tollbooth1999

art rock progressive rock rock

I really enjoy listening to this album. It could possibly be described as a progressive, somewhat symphonic rock and roll journey. Though my familiarity with bands of this style is limited, I think Pink Floyd could be an influence here. The music is written and performed by one person, who simply identifies himself as Malachi. On his web page it says this is Malachi's third album, but it does not give any information about the previous two.

The majority of this album, about 45 minutes and 19 track numbers, could be viewed as one long song with many movements, and begs to be listened to all at once. The general formula is mellow piano/keyboard intros building to rock and roll movements with pleasing male vocals and occasional violins (real or synthesized), which give way to mellow or spacey interludes, which transform back into rock movements. The lyrics, which are included in the booklet, tell the story of the Bible from creation to the flood, as in the song, "Time Begins."

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth
And the earth became void,
And darkness fell upon the face of the deep.
Covered the land with water,
Water to wash away the sin.
The first earth age has fallen,
The second to begin.
Create a new.
Give it to the chosen few.
Plant the seed
And watch it grow,
In the midst of the beauty below.
Give all life to all that breathe,
Though in a short time they begin to greed.
They make gods before themselves,
And in time destroy themselves.

Apparently this is the first of seven albums from Malachi, which would probably follow the story of the Bible through from cover to cover.

Tracks 40 and 41 are an intro, a song, and then another song. Although it is obvious that these songs are from the same artist, they follow a more standard rock and roll song format. The lyrical subject matter also varies from the rest of the album. I assume these are the reasons why they were stuck out in space at the end of the disc.

One is an enjoyable experience, and I look forward to the next six albums in this series.

4 tocks