Valensia is an amazing album! Imagine Freddie Mercury singing with Sparks or Kate Bush fronting Jellyfish. Valensia is one talented musician (he plays nearly everything on here plus his awesome vocals).

Opener ‘Mayte’ is Freddie Mercury! It could easily be an unreleased track from ‘Queen II’ - complete with the high pitched backing vocals and multi-layered vocals. ‘Inshallah’ is another uncanny Queen sounding track - not a mimic of Queen, more a natural progression. Plus it is also very much Kate Bush in vocals and arrangements. The same goes for ‘The Echo’, which is a pomp rock delight! Bit of reggae on ‘Hello Pianist’, complete with Mike Oldfield like guitar breaks. Duran Duran are also name checked in the album credits and ‘The Line’ has that Duran Duran/Powerstation drum sound.

Not everyone will like this as there is so much going on but it really is a musical treat and the melodies are strong enough to stand-up to repeated plays. Just go buy this because if you a Queen, Jellyfish, Sparks or Styx album you will adore this. Each play reveals more and as the sleeve notes advise it’s a headphones only album.

It’s a five star album if you like Queen!

Related>>Label website

**** (***** if you like Queen!)

Review by Jason Ritchie

***** Out of this world | **** Pretty damn fine |
*** OK, approach with caution unless you are a fan |
** Instant bargain bin fodder | * Ugly. Just ugly