Alan Parsons "On Air" DTS

Aviation history was made yesterday when a privately financed group of engineers managed to put a man into space. With that said, I guess Alan Parsons will have to add an extra track to "On Air"...

Before we get ahead of ourselves, Alan Parsons crafted this concept album detailing man's quest for the heavens. Released in 2002, "On Air", was not his or his Project's greatest of efforts. It does; however, sound quite fetching in DTS 5.1 surround sound. In this album, Alan Parsons tackles subjects ranging from the mythic Icarus and the visionary Da Vinci, into wartime tragedy, free falling, fear of flying and the Challenger disaster. Thought provoking...

Parsons of course is famous for his work on Abbey Road and Dark Side of the Moon. He managed to springboard that success into the Alan Parsons Project in the mid-70's. More producer than rockstar, Alan Parsons produced some interesting albums with the help of well respected studio musicians. His debut album tackled the collected works of Edgar Alan Poe. Later concept albums were concerned with alienation, man vs machine, woman vs man...

"On Air"; unfortunately, is more reminiscient of his "Stereotomy" release than his brilliant "Tales of Mystery and Imagination". Highlights of "On Air" are "Too Close to the Sun" and the instrumentals "Cloudbreak" and "Apollo" which features a sample of JFK's rousing "we'll put a man on the moon" speech.

This recording was released on dvd...don't put it in your cd players kids. The 5.1 effect is stunning throughout. During one quiet passage a Hawker Harrier came screaming out of my rear channels only to blast across my livingroom and finally dissipate in a jaw gaping ascent right through my centre channel. Other tricks include the sounds of birds, a vintage spitfire, baby talk etc. Throughout the sound is lush and exciting punctuated by Ian Bairnson's (Jon Anderson, Kate Bush, Chris De Burgh) terrific guitar work. Like Parsons previous efforts, this one utilizes harpsichord and an orchestra to provide a full range of acoustics. He saves his most stunning trick for the final track: A vocalist and single acoustic guitar play in the left rear speaker only. Parsons slowly twiddles the soundscape thus moving singer and guitar around the room until all channels come up to a stunningly full 5.1-ity...or something or other.

Although the A&R man said, "I don't hear single" the Christopher Cross sung "So Far Away" is the closest thing to a stand alone track. Otherwise; this is a concept album in every regard. It should be tackled all at once or not at all. Judging by its failure to chart, I'd have to say that the public decided not at all..

Me...I'm an Aviation nut. I kinda dig it