As the World
Encyclopedia
As the World is an album by the progressive rock
band Echolyn
, released in 1995. It features many complex arrangements and vocal harmonies, showing at times the influence of classic progrock bands such as Gentle Giant
and Genesis
.
Track 1, "All Ways The Same" is a short instrumental
intro
to the album, a string ensemble piece composed by echolyn keyboardist Christopher Buzby and performed by studio violinists and echolyn members (laying down the vocals) where it was recorded in Nashville.
Track 2, "As The World" begins in A minor
with acoustic guitar
and vocals with a simple percussion. As bass and drums are added, vocal harmonies come into play, as well as an organ continuo by Buzby. Toward the middle of the song, the syncopated vocals and contrapuntal instrumentation perhaps remind the listener of a Gentle Giant
influence on this song more than most other echolyn pieces.
Tracks 7 through 11 make up a suite entitled "Letters." Track 9 ("My Dear Wormwood") is based on The Screwtape Letters
by C.S. Lewis.
Track 16, "Never the Same" is the most requested song at live performances. Echolyn guitarist Brett Kull
has remarked about this apparent paradox, because while the group is hailed for being extraordinarily "proggy
", the song is a relatively simple one in 3/4 time. This song marks the influence of The Beatles
and Simon and Garfunkel
more than the often-cited progressive rock influences.
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band Echolyn
Echolyn
Echolyn is an American progressive rock band based in eastern Pennsylvania.- Origins and first phase :Echolyn was formed in 1989 when guitarist Brett Kull and drummer Paul Ramsey, members of a recently split cover band called Narcissus, joined with keyboardist Chris Buzby to form a new band to...
, released in 1995. It features many complex arrangements and vocal harmonies, showing at times the influence of classic progrock bands such as Gentle Giant
Gentle Giant
Gentle Giant were a British progressive rock band active between 1970 and 1980. The band was known for the complexity and sophistication of its music and for the varied musical skills of its members. All of the band members, except the first two drummers, were multi-instrumentalists...
and Genesis
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
.
Track 1, "All Ways The Same" is a short instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
intro
Introduction (music)
In music, the introduction is a passage or section which opens a movement or a separate piece. In popular music this is often abbreviated as intro...
to the album, a string ensemble piece composed by echolyn keyboardist Christopher Buzby and performed by studio violinists and echolyn members (laying down the vocals) where it was recorded in Nashville.
Track 2, "As The World" begins in A minor
A minor
A minor is a minor scale based on A, consisting of the pitches A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. The harmonic minor scale raises the G to G...
with acoustic guitar
Acoustic guitar
An acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
and vocals with a simple percussion. As bass and drums are added, vocal harmonies come into play, as well as an organ continuo by Buzby. Toward the middle of the song, the syncopated vocals and contrapuntal instrumentation perhaps remind the listener of a Gentle Giant
Gentle Giant
Gentle Giant were a British progressive rock band active between 1970 and 1980. The band was known for the complexity and sophistication of its music and for the varied musical skills of its members. All of the band members, except the first two drummers, were multi-instrumentalists...
influence on this song more than most other echolyn pieces.
Tracks 7 through 11 make up a suite entitled "Letters." Track 9 ("My Dear Wormwood") is based on The Screwtape Letters
The Screwtape Letters
The Screwtape Letters is a satirical Christian apologetics novel written in epistolary style by C. S. Lewis, first published in book form in February 1942...
by C.S. Lewis.
Track 16, "Never the Same" is the most requested song at live performances. Echolyn guitarist Brett Kull
Brett Kull
Brett Kull is an American rock and pop multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, composer and record producer, best known for his work with the progressive rock group Echolyn.-Solo works:-Echolyn:...
has remarked about this apparent paradox, because while the group is hailed for being extraordinarily "proggy
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
", the song is a relatively simple one in 3/4 time. This song marks the influence of The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
and Simon and Garfunkel
Simon and Garfunkel
Simon & Garfunkel are an American duo consisting of singer-songwriter Paul Simon and singer Art Garfunkel. They formed the group Tom & Jerry in 1957 and had their first success with the minor hit "Hey, Schoolgirl". As Simon & Garfunkel, the duo rose to fame in 1965, largely on the strength of the...
more than the often-cited progressive rock influences.
Track listing
- "All Ways the Same" (Echolyn) – 0:36
- "As the World" (Echolyn, Kull, Weston) – 4:50
- "Uncle" (Echolyn, Weston) – 6:54
- "How Long I Have Waited" (Buzby, Echolyn) – 4:43
- "Best Regards" (Buzby, Echolyn, Kull) – 4:11
- "The Cheese Stands Alone" (Buzby, Echolyn, Kull, Weston) – 4:48
- "Prose" (Echolyn) – 1:45
- "A Short Essay" (Echolyn, Kull, Weston) – 4:34
- "My Dear Wormwood" (Echolyn, Kull) – 3:34
- "Entry 11-19-93" (Echolyn, Weston) – 5:33
- "One for the Show" (Echolyn, Kull) – 4:31
- "The Wiblet" (Echolyn) – 0:47
- "Audio Verité" (Echolyn, Weston) – 4:27
- "Settled Land" (Echolyn, Kull, Weston) – 5:42
- "A Habit Worth Forming" (Echolyn, Weston) – 4:29
- "Never the Same" (Echolyn, Kull) – 7:54
Personnel
- Christopher Buzby - keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, backing vocals - Tom Hyatt - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, Midi pedals - Brett KullBrett KullBrett Kull is an American rock and pop multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, composer and record producer, best known for his work with the progressive rock group Echolyn.-Solo works:-Echolyn:...
- guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s, lead and backing vocals - Paul Ramsey - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration... - Ray Weston - lead and backing vocals