Along with Dream Theater and Porcupine Tree, Neal Morse’s Spock’s Beard was a big part of the new progressive rock movement of the late 80s and early 90s. Forming Spock’s Beard with his brother Alan, being part of another band called Transatlantic and enjoying moderate success, the multi-instrumentalist lead singer went through a deep religious conviction and became a born-again Christian. Morse left his bands to release a slew of solo albums. The songs from these records make up the five-disc box set (three CDs and two DVDs), Testimony Two: Live In Los Angeles.
Featuring a seven-piece band of amazing players, we roll right into “Lifeline” with its strong main riff, wailing guitars and blistering drumming from former Dream Theater timekeeper Mike Portnoy. Early on, we are treated to some split screen action, showcasing Morse at his commanding spot behind his keyboard. This song truly reveals what a cracker-jack band Morse has surrounded himself with. “Leviathan” has a slightly scary, King Crimson sound to it. During a very dramatic “Sola Scriptura Medley,” Morse works through a slightly limited vocal range with a great delivery all the same. Morse is immersed in his beliefs and part of his solo conceptual canon espouses those beliefs.
There’s a real pretty opening with still pictures of Morse in the studio and his daughter at the start of the second DVD. Then Nathan Brenton’s violin comes in as we get into a Kansas-like atmosphere on “Mercy Street.” This captures Morse’s vocals properly and may my favorite tune of the bunch. Bassist Randy George bass and Portnoy lock in on “Time Changer” as Morse experiments with some different vocal sounds over the top of the melody.
On “Jayda,” we learn about Morse’s daughter and her heart problems – and the resulting connection to his Christian faith. There’s the beautiful piano on “Time Has Come Today,” but at this stage in the proceedings, a certain repetition starts to set in. But the special bonus with Morse with Spock’s Beard at the 2011 High Voltage Festival makes up for it .Overall, Testimony Two: Live In Los Angeles is very good, with superb musicianship and ambitious material from one of progressive rock’s most original artists.
~ Ralph Greco, Jr.
