Liquid Tension Experiment: Liquid Tension Experiment
(CD, 74:04); Magna Carta MA-9023-2.

When the first few bars of “Paradigm Shift” raced out of my stereo, I instinctively glanced over to see if my CD player somehow was stuck on fast-forward. Then, I remembered. It’s those guys.

As in, the note-happy speed merchants Jordan Rudess (keyboards), John Petrucci (guitar), Mike Portnoy (drums), and elder statesman Tony Levin (bass, stick, electric upright bass). Yes, there’s plenty of frenetic noodling here, but Liquid Tension Experiment actually is more cohesive, lyrical and melodic than I expected. It’s quite amazing, considering that this ad hoc collaboration laid down 74 minutes worth of music in just six days!

Moods range from sheer blowouts like “Paradigm Shift” to melodic/symphonic triumphs such as “Kindred Spirits” and “Universal Mind,” to more reflective, sweetly reverent fare (“State of Grace”). All the individual voices come through – the hard-driving crunch of Dream Theater via Portnoy and Petrucci, the playful lyricism of the Dixie Dregs via Rudess, and Levin’s very Crimson-esque angularities.

It all climaxes in a rather entertaining virtuosity jam-fest, the 29-minute “Three Minute Warning” – a totally unrehearsed, spontaneous recording with no holds barred. This is a fun album, and I’d love to see these guys take their show on the road. —John Collinge