Artist: Mike Florio Album: Arisen (2006) Label: Independent Records Website: http://www.massdream.com Reviewer: Bill Knispel

Track List: 1. Bells For 1827 (7:24) 2. Binary World (5:55) 3. Fractured (4:38) 4. Pretending (4:33) 5. Media Ride (3:38) 6. Paradise of Stone (9:09) 7. Violent Moods (6:58) Mike Florio is a New York based keyboardist and singer releasing his first album in Arisen. The album opens with “Bells for 1827,” a fairly upbeat track with oodles of great keyboard sounds, including some wonderfully deep organ tones and dexterous piano playing. Florio has a pleasing voice, even if it has an occasionally over-earnest delivery; he is committed to his songs, and it shows in his singing. “Binary World” follows on the album, with a heavy guitar opening and an overall sound somewhat reminiscent of post-Audio Visions era Kansas or other early 1980’s stadium rock bands. Florio’s keyboards continue to be a strong focal point, while his band (Bill Thomas/guitars, Dave Bailey/bass, Steve Golden/drums) are all solid performers. While it’s Mike Florio’s name on the cover, the material and the band sound like a single entity. Bill Thomas’ guitar playing is a highlight on “Fractured,” especially in the opening instrumental section. The vocal sections, like previous tracks, follow a strongly arena rock influenced style, while the instrumental breaks show some serious musical chops. This stylistic disconnect between vocal and instrumental sections brings a higher degree of interest to the pieces, but it does lend to a less coherent feel to the album as a whole. The album’s epic is the 9-minute “Paradise of Stone.” Opening majestically with understated organ supporting Thomas’ ascending guitar chords and Golden’s powerful drumming, the song then settles into a quieter piano and vocals section before building back up with layered vocals and bursts of guitars and drums punctuating the stillness. Bailey and Golden create a deep rhythmic foundation, allowing Thomas and Florio ample opportunity to shine with their individual solo sections. Lyrically, Florio’s music is positive and somewhat seeking, occasionally critical of elements of modern society, and perhaps spiritual without being proselytizing. Mike Florio’s Arisen would be of interest to fans of melodic progressive music, especially if their interests lead them to music on the outskirts of the scene like Styx or later-period Kansas. Melodic without being cloying, musical without being too precious or baroque, Arisen shows Florio to be a solid talent with quite a bit to offer. Mike Florio: vocals, keyboards Bill Thomas: guitars Dave Bailey: bass Steve Golden: drums