Mike Visaggio and Kinetic Element: Press

MIKE VISAGGIO
Starship Universe (06)

Mike Visaggio is a fantastically talented keyboard player heavily influenced by Keith Emerson and Rick Wakeman. He's unabashedly Christian, although his songs are much more seeker friendly than "in-your-face" preachy. His singing isn't the most pleasant I've ever heard and his lyrics are head-scratchingly obtuse at times, but don't let that scare you off because the vocals are a small part of the overall album. Mike can surely rip it up on the keys with the best of them, and he wrings the most out of his Alesis QS and Korg CX-3 synths, including fantastic vintage B-3 and Moog sounds. The album features extended instrumental interludes where he showcases his chops, including a great cover of Blues Variation from ELP's Pictures at an Exhibition, which he adds his own flair to. He also does a wonderfully jazzy re-interpretation of the theme to 2001 A Space Odyssey. It's a really fun album to listen to, and certainly hearkens back to the bygone era of caped keyboard virtuosos from the 1970's, with epic prog and fusion flair. Visaggio is a one-man-band, and performs basically everything on his keyboards using samples. Besides the weak vocals as mentioned, the lack of real drums (except on the Yes-like rocker Synchonized Life) and guitars damper the music a tad, although even that doesn't hold back his keyboard and compositional talents from shining brightly. I would absolutely love to hear Mike hooked up with some other musicians of similar talent in a full on prog band recording, preferably with an exceptional singer that would push his music to the next level, on par with the classic prog greats. Hopefully, he can sell enough copies of Starship Universe to pay for the next installment of original music and make it happen, which I will surely be lining up to hear. Guys like Mike surely deserve your support. You can download songs to sample his music at http://www.mikevisaggio.com or from his myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/MikeVisaggio {dt}

'Mike Visaggio'
'Starship Universe'


- Genre: 'Rock' - Release Date: '2006'


Our Rating:
In the "now for something completely different" category, a Christian artist recording a progressive rock album seems to be an anomaly these days. From my own experience, I've never heard the two mix.

Prog is often associated with science-fiction concepts set to fairly complex rock and roll compositions and not the Word of God. Seemingly, the title of this record from progressive rock revivalist Mike Visaggio (http://www.mikevisaggio.com), "Starship Universe," is in tune with genre traditions dating back to the early '70s. However, lyrically Visaggio is seeking spiritual salvation. The opening cut, "In the Nazarene Church," reveals his Christian leanings from the song title alone.

Given that prog often reaches into otherworldly terrain with its sonic textures, the combination certainly makes sense. Moreover, given the cookie-clone approach that many Christians musicians are currently taking, Visaggio's love for vintage Yes, Genesis, and Kansas is refreshingly different.

Much of "Starship Universe" sounds old, as if this was a reissue of an out-of-print LP from the '70s. But what is dated can also be timeless, which is the effect that Visaggio produces here. The bubbly synthesizers and rolling, jazzy drums on "In the Nazarene Church" give flashbacks of early FM rock radio, before consultants were hired and castrated song lengths ("In the Nazarene Church" clocks in at 6:37) and creative ambition.

Visaggio has a surprisingly dramatic, soaring voice which is best showcased on "My Elders' Son" and "On the Ship of Emotion"; it is deep and ethereal, combining the best of Jim Morrison and David Bowie. At a time when so many artists are grounded by blandness, Visaggio takes off into uncharted territory with a joyful, God-given smile on his face.
author: Adam Harrington

Artist/ Band: Mike Visaggio
Title: Starship Universe
Label: Self release
Year of Release: 2006
Artist/ Band Link (click below for details)






The Review:

I received my copy of Mike Visaggio’s Starship Universe. He warned me that it was Christian based music but to be honest with you it’s not the preachy kind. It almost has a storytelling atmosphere that other’s outside the Christian faith will be able to listen to. Mike’s style of music embodies, to me at least, the true spirit of classic progressive rock with it’s intricate instrumentation and amazing thought provoking lyrics. Mike’s instrument of choice is the keyboard, and gives a very vintage vibe to his playing. In many ways this albums sounds like it could have been released in the mid-seventies.
Upon listening to this album, you can hear in Mike’s playing, his admiration for Keith Emerson So much in fact that he does a really nice cover of Emerson’s “Blues Variations” on Starship Universe. Mike also does all the singing on the album. While he’s not one of the strongest singers, he fits perfectly within the style and flow of the album. He also does electronic drums and rhythm programming for the most part with the exception of a few tracks where he uses a live drummer. Unless you listen beyond the music, you really cant tell or rather care that it’s not real players doing the drums and bass.

I feel very honored to be among the people Mike sent his cd to. It’s one of the more enjoyable self produced albums I’ve heard in a while. Even though I like Starship Universe, I would love to hear Mike with some other musicians to help flesh out his true potential. Watch out, Mike Vissagio’s starship has landed and hopefully here to stay!

Reviewed by Ron Fuchs on May 13th, 2006


Tracks:

1) In The Nazerene Church 6:37
2) Prelude No. 2 for Piano 0:56
3) My Elders' Son 6:46
4) Blues Variations 8:01
5) 2001: Also Rocked Zarathustra 9:51
6) Starship Universe 2:35
7 ) The Synchronized Life 6:54
8) On The Ship Of Emotion 8:38
9) Music's Coming To Us 4:25

I don’t know if it’s a coincidence but ever since Neal Morse released Testimony a few years back, I’ve noticed quite a few Christian musicians coming out of the woodwork. It’s not like in years past where an artist who had a religious message almost seemed obligated to present the music in a watered-down popish format. Some of these newer artists have been very bold and adventurous with the music while keeping their message intact. Mike Visaggio from Richmond, Virginia is one such artist. His latest CD shows that it is very possible to produce a nice contemporary prog Christian album without sacrificing musical integrity.

Mike is an excellent keyboardist with a wonderful palette of mostly vintage sounds that he uses. This stuff sounds like it could have easily come from the mid-seventies. Maybe the fact that he has been playing since then makes it more authentic sounding. He has been in several bands in the New York City area before relocating to Virginia and has also recorded a few albums with Billy Falcon’s band Burning Rose. Starship Universe is his first solo CD and hopefully there will be many more to come.

You can tell by his choice of keyboard patches that Mike has a real admiration for Keith Emerson. He also does a really nice cover of Emerson’s “Blues Variations” on here. Like I said before, there are some really nice vintage keyboard sounds that he uses. Several times while listening to this disc I had to do a double take to make sure it was really more recent music and not actually something recorded in 1978.

Mike does all the vocals on the disc as well. Singing doesn’t seem to be his forte but he plods along admirably. His vocals can be a bit flat at times, well maybe I’m being too kind. They’re pancake flat! Even so, it’s his vocals and lyrics that make the project so special. I don’t think I’d have enjoyed this CD and paid attention to the details nearly as much if I hadn’t been thrown a little by the singing at first.

Perhaps the main drawback here would be the electronic drums and rhythm programming. Although they are done very well, it’s obvious that it would have been preferable to have a real drummer playing a huge kit to really do these compositions justice. There is an actual drummer (Mike Murray) who appears on three tracks and these are the fullest sounding on the album.

There are a few standout tracks on the CD. My favorite right now is probably “The Synchronized Life” which is one of the ones I mentioned that has real drums. Another one I like is the version of Strauss’s "Also Sprach Zarathustra" which Visaggio has playfully renamed “Also Rocked Zarathustra”. The final song “Music’s Coming To Us” seems to take on a more straightforward rock approach and would probably sound excellent with a full band.

All in all, I think this is a really nice CD and I’m glad Mike took the time to send it to me. It’s great efforts like this one that are giving Christian prog a more respectable name these days. Bravo!