Once in a while, you come across an album, that..when the first tones hit 
you, you realise ”this is gold”!!

HOGGWASH's debut album: “The Lost Horizon” is one such album!! Out of 
respect for both musicians and readers, I normally listen to an album, at 
least 5-6 times, before making judgment, writing a review!! Don't get me 
wrong, I still do that. But this fine debut, on the first listen, first 
track, had me cheering out loud: “YES” (which almost gave my cat, always 
residing/sleeping next to me, a heart-attack.)

But seriously, this is a rare fine debut. It has all the makings of a 
great prog album and certainly a contender for best prog newcomer this 
year!! You get plenty beautiful and smooth soundscapes, you get superb 
keyboard play, towering unison guitar/keyboard solo, you get excellent 
production, mix and arrangements. Though not by any means a copy/clone 
band

Hoggwash has hints, allegations and leanings to such bands as: SAGA, 
CAMEL, PINK FLOYD to name a few! And why not? Mentioned bands have had 
(and still have) a great impact on many generations up till now and 
beyond!

“The Lost Horizon” are the excellent example of co work between two 
major musically talented people, across the borders of separate 
countries, but also across the borders of culture and sentiment.
Now, let me sink my verbal teeth in to the flesh of this fine album. 

According to the creators (Will & Anthony) this concept album, are to 
be followed by at least one more (maybe 2?) albums !!? Lets hope so!!
First track: “Out of the Darkness” opens with some fine narration, soon 
to glide into a steady theme, with guitars and keyboards to the fore 
and some very relaxed vocals “walking” us through the song/lyrics! A 
beautiful acoustic almost classical, in traditional orchestral way, 
interval midways breaks the theme of this epic (15:30 min.) track before 
returning to yet another great theme. So a very long, beautiful and 
varied composition, reminding this old proghead of a mix between Alan 
Parsons project & Camel at their absolute best!! What a great way to 
start an album!!

“Reflections of Life” continues in that same excellent style powerful 
without being heavy, beautiful without being banal, extravagant without 
being pretentious. Just superbly delivered, composed and finely arranged 
music!! I'm really amazed, this is top of the class, artrock/progmusic!!
“Under a Rainbow Sky” ..well, you get the picture. This track also shines, 
with brilliant keyboard solo and chord themes, strongly supported by fine 
guitars and hey, some neat vocal harmonies !! Great stuff!!

“Road of Many Challenges” again...im flabbergasted, this track also boast´s 
a fine beautiful theme, keyboard, guitar and flute(?) one could almost 
hear hints of Jethro Tull´s magic in there!! This album is absolutely 
brimful of great themes, any great new artrock/progband would give their 
right arm, just to have, create or compose, just a few of these!!

That´s all you get, from me. The rest of this magnificent debut album are 
for you to buy, explore and cherish!!

And believe you me, you will! It really is amazing what Will, Anthony and 
the "boys", have created here!

Anyone seriously into great artrock/progmusic and for that matter anyone 
into beautiful, well-crafted music with keyboard deluxe to the fore, 
must own this fine album!!

I cant wait to hear the next outing from these excellent musicians!
Im not that impressed by the cover art, but hey that´s me...some like 
Dali and some like Matisse!!

By tlarz  Published: November 12, 2007
Progplanet