Darryl Way - Myths, Legends, and Tales

Darryl Way, the co-founder of Curved Air and Wolf, is for me, one of the most dazzling and blazing important figures of Progressive Rock. As a composer and violinist, his new album entitled, Myths, Legends, and Tales released on the Right Honourable Records label which is a part of the Cherry Red family, sees Way travelling at the speed of light and taking inspirations of the Greek mythologies in both of the ancient and the present day with a symphonic approach.

I’ve always admired Darryl Way’s work with both Curved Air and Wolf when I was in Junior College and their music hasn’t left my headphones. Now for me, I really wanted to check his time as a solo artist. And now in 2016, I’m getting new to his solo work and let me say, it’s very, very good. More than just his time with those two bands, Darry Way takes the Classical and Progressive styles into a scale of beauty.

With his new album, he’s bringing the listener along to an adventure of Ancient Times and History that will make you know that he hasn’t forgotten the chops of the Progressive genre. From the galloping and pastoral running opener of Apollo (Racing Against the Sun), it feels like a new day has arrived as electronic drums, keyboard guitars, and violin work sets the tempo for the story to begin.

Way’s vocals are not bad at all. Even though he may not be the best singer, but he can hit those notes for the race to start and end. He resembles at times of John Wetton (Mogul Thrash, King Crimson, and Asia) through his arrangement. Orpheus and the Underworld takes you deep, deep into the darker hidden territories of hell. It’s dramatic and shows an emotional beauty as Darryl takes the listener into those heavier places in which it reminiscent of il Tempo Della Gioia-era of Rock Progressivo Italiano group, Quella Vecchia Locanda.

Then, he does something very interesting. You can hear the inspirations on the three tracks on here. Way moves into almost a style between Classical and the Bossa-Nova groove featuring classical guitars with a watery effect from the keyboards on Aphrodite while The Ice Man brings forth a delivery of soaring melodies that nods towards between King Crimson’s Starless and Landmarq’s Entertaining Angels-era as the shuffling blues-jazz melodies with a swinging twist of heavy rock on Dove of Piece brings forth the early sounds of Uriah Heep.

Darryl Way emerges a powerful force of playing the violin and the electronic instruments and almost imaging as if he is making the listener imaging and closing their eyes by picturing a movie inside their heads and Darryl himself composing the short stories about the Greek tales of Ancient times. Myths, Legends, and Tales whether you love it or loathe it, it’s Darryl that shines on the rest of the album that knows that he still has the energy on his violin.