I DIDN'T really know what to expect from this, but I was pleasantly surprised.

Symphonic concept rock meets electronica didn't sound too promising, but a couple of listens on the Walkman while on the cross-trainer opened my ears and I ended up liking it.

Alan Parsons is basically a sound engineer who worked with the Beatles, Hollies, Cockney Rebel and Pink Floyd, to name but a few. He also founded the Alan Parsons Project as a forum for creating thematic records using a collection of vocalists and session players - I still have his 1978 album Pyramid gathering dust in a cupboard.

This offering is bang up to date, a blend of conventional melodic rock and electronic music featuring contributions from The Crystal Method, Shpongle, Uberzone and even the soaring guitar of Pink Floyd's Dave Gilmour.

The result is at times patchy and a little gimmicky, but some tracks stand out for their originality, particularly A Recurring Dream Within A Dream and the driving Chomolungma. Worth a listen.

Updated: 08:50 Thursday, September 02, 2004