The Sine Star Project's main driver is Peter J Croissant who not only wrote and produced the music on this album but played vocals, guitars, piano, trumpet and synths as well. The band has recently supported Marillion as well as a gig with Tinyfish. Musically imagine if you will Muse jamming with Queen, aided by Mercury Rev's wonderful knack of mixing strings into songs and Jeff Buckley on vocals.

There are many highlights throughout this album but two stand head and shoulders above the other songs. 'Brown Bread' is simply wonderful, from the heavy guitar through to the synth runs (very Muse like), harmony vocal overload on the chorus and those vocals - Peter Croissant has a very high register and uses it to great effect on this album. The other show stopper on here has to be 'Christmas Carol For The Dead' which leaves the listener in a state of shock as you marvel at the vocals and musical arrangements. This song would sit nicely in a Tim Burton film.

This is progressive music in its finest form - not afraid to take musical influences from any genre, a keen eye on melody (only one song exceeds five minutes) and meld them into a wondrous musical journey. This is the best thing about reviewing when you get an album you know nothing about yet it hits you for six. I'd be very surprised if this album doesn't make my year end top 20.

****½

Review by Jason Ritchie