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Pat Strawser - 2023 - “Vignettes" (75:24; Pat Strawser) It is a long time since I have come across Pat’s work, some 24 years in fact as it was back in 1999 that I reviewed Volare’s debut album, ‘The Uncertainty Principle’, which was sent to me by the label, so we had never been in direct contact until he emailed me earlier this year. It was certainly a shock to him that I not only knew who he was but had written about him back in the day. Pat says he is influenced by the classic prog/fusion groups like Yes and Genesis, Happy the Man, Mahavishnu Orchestra, to Canterbury groups like National Health etc. and extends into jazzier areas like Pat Metheny. Certainly, having now heard his work on Bill Hart’s live album I know he is very much at home in the jazz field, yet this release is far more sedate than that. There is fusion, but he is coming at it from areas of synthwave, electronic, Canterbury and other classic forms of prog, with stylings which are more Vangelis than Jarre, with hints of Wakeman but little of the bombast of Emerson. It is a pleasant enough album, with much of it quite middle of the road, which makes for an easy listening experience for anyone into this style of music. It is something which needs to be played on headphones as the best way to get the most out of this is by allowing oneself to be fully immersed in the music and be taken on a journey as opposed to attempting to listen to it in the background as then there is the risk that the nuances will get somewhat lost. Looking at his site it is clear that Pat has continually been active in the music scene, and I look forward to hearing more from him in the future. Progtector: August 2023 Related Links: Pat Strawser