The Wind are a quartet from California. Together they’ve spent the last five years touring and writing their ever-unique, vocal harmony textured, sixties inspired rock music. Their sound has elements of The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and Queen with a healthy dose of modern indie-rock. Add to this it’s a double album chock full of grand sweeping melodies and quirky musical sketches.

One thing that struck me was the pristine production work so similar to Abbey Road – it’s as if Geoff Emerick was on the board himself. The contrast of whimsy and thematic grandeur covers the entire package, similar to a Klaatu, 10cc or Stackridge album. The flowing prog opener is not unlike ELP or Ambrosia on “Shellwhite” that takes a turn to “Hathor,” a bouncy melodic British flavoured tune. “Marvel Me” has a 70’s easy listening style with building chorus, but the next atmospheric gem here is the lovely “Oh Hadihu,” like Brian Wilson singing in Bread. The guitars assert themselves in the rhythm on “Lucy” with flawless harmonies on the chorus ” ohh, such a pretty pretty girl.” Then we hear a slow blues rock number “Come On” and a theatrical number “Unless, I’m A Liar.” The variety of styles here is very impressive.

Disc 2 continues with the 10cc-like “An Astral Dance And A Shared Dream,” but a few songs here (“Some Place,” “Yankee Brig”) seemed stretched out too long and don’t add anything new. Fortunately, a theatrical scene “I’ze Born a Rich Man” and an effective country rocker “27 Cent Blues” are added delights. The quirky “This Is The Modern World” is like 10cc doing Smile’s “Mrs. O’Leary’s Cow.” The remaining tracks are effective but don’t raise the bar any further. There are enough good tunes here to rate this is a excellent album, but with so many you’ll find yourself picking out favorites. A daring debut, and the band is so confident you’ll love it it’s offering disc one for FREE at http://www.thewind.us/share/