All in all, only these two appear to be well balanced with regard to their vocal-based and purely instrumental arrangements, the latter being large-scaled - well, in their own way. Contrary to the expectations the press release has cast over me, there are no elements of Classical music to be found here, and although some of the instrumental sections on each of the two lengthy songs, Blue Waves and Possessing Nothing, can be regarded as piano interludes, these are closer to New Age in their architectonics (the piano isn't acoustic though, having a distinct synthetic taste). Unlike each of the said recordings however, the hero of this occasion reveals no reefs or undercurrents either, the music reminding me of a broad, yet shallow river unhurriedly carrying its calm waters, all of which makes the entire thing sound pretty samey. Not counting the last track, Rest (which is the sole instrumental here and is a shamelessly senseless two-chord synthesizer space 'music'), "Opus One" is the product of a completely unified compositionally-stylistic approach, each of the other five tunes representing modern symphonic Space Rock modeled after such patterns of the direction as "Division Bell" by Pink Floyd, Porcupine Tree's "The Sky Moves Sideways", "The Answer" by Eloy and Metamorphosis's "Then All Was Silent". The acoustic guitar solo, that the album begins with, is in its outline not unlike the one Steve Howe plays as an intro to Roundabout, the opening number of "Fragile", but there, however, all similarities between Greylevel and Yes are ended. After several years of working in his home studio, Derek involved his wife Esther and good friend Richard Shukin in the project which ultimately resulted in Greylevel's debut offering, "Opus One". Two parcels, totaling 100 acres, are within the renowned To Kalon Vineyard. These are complemented by the combined 70 acres of the Ballestra and River parcels, which envelop the winery. In the vineyards, hand-harvesting and other traditional approaches are taken wherever they work best.According to the press kit, the history of Canadian trio GREYLEVEL dates from 2001 when Derek Barber (see lineup above) became inflamed with the desire to write and record songs that would combine his classical piano training with his passion for Progressive Rock. The estate vineyards of Opus One, comprised of four parcels, sit in the western portion of the famed Oakville AVA in Napa Valley. It remains an ongoing testament to the founders’ vision of a singular wine that transcends generations. Rising gracefully from the vineyards, Opus One winery stands in subtle celebration of the land and the open space that surrounds the estate. Guided by the vision of our founders, winemaker Michael Silacci combines intuition and technical acumen with the dual perspective of viticulturist and winemaker. From tasting berries to careful sorting and extended aging in new French oak barrels, each stage of the winemaking process is afforded the same meticulous consideration and attention. After 18 months, the Opus One wine is bottled and held an additional 15 months until release on October 1st each year.
Place, often defined as terroir, represents the geography, the climate and the essential human element which is captured in the wine’s balance between power and finesse, structure and texture. The essence of time is expressed in Opus One wine by the character of each vintage. The facial profile of the two founders is visible on their iconic label. Producing luxury wines from its Napa Valley vineyards, the partnership made its first vintage in 1979 and has made wine at Opus One since 1991. Opus One is a partnership founded by Baron Philippe de Rothschild of Chateau Mouton Rothschild in Pauillac, France, and renowned Napa Valley vintner, Robert Mondavi. Learn about Opus One, it’s history, the winery and the wine.
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