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Robert Berry's 3.2: Third Impression
Robert Berry's 3.2 - Third Impression Album Art

Robert Berry's 3.2: Third Impression

Melodic Progressive Rock
4.5/5.0

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Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 27.01.2021 | Released: 12.02.2021

The title is appropriate. Third Impression marks the return of Robert Perry's 3.2 project wherein he resurrects the one-off Eighties super prog group 3.0 featuring the enduring compositions and contributions of the late Keith Emerson. How we've come to this point is explained in greater detail with the my review of 2018's The Rules Have Changed. Perhaps oversimplified, Berry creates songs by intertwining his own musical parts with Emerson's extant keyboard contributions for new songs.

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Robert Berry

The result is Third Impression, a delightful and entertaining recording of melodic progressive rock which features an abundance of Emerson keyboard craft work accompanied by Berry's musical wizardry, notably in his vocal parts guitar lines. You'll hear this from that start with large and expansive progressive arrangement of Top Of The World. Beginning lightly with acoustic guitar and voice, soon the rhythm section rises and symphonic notions appear. But the song gets heavier in the riffage and dense from the keyboards. Later, keyboard and guitar take turns dueling. Later, in the closing number, Never, the progressive arrangement turns on a larger keyboard presence from cathedral-like organ to classic piano, from lush synth symyphonics to a jazzy organ solo at midpoint. Which is followed by a frenetic Berry guitar solo over equally frenzied synth work.

In between these songs, the variety continues. What Side Your On, while notable for Emerson's keyboard work, plays like a short heavy rocker with raw energy and a strong guitar solo. With Missing Piece, you'll find acoustic guitar united with soft synths moving into smooth, bit softer, melodic rock. Another terrific, soaring guitar solo rises about the 3'40" before dropping back down to voice and acoustic guitar. Perhaps somewhat similar is the rising ballad, Bond Of Union. By the strength of classical piano and voice, the song develops into another lighter rock song with delightful and memorable melody and harmony. About two-thirds, these things lead to a fine classical piano solo and a more subtle guitar solo. Maybe with a little more drama throughout, The Devil Of Liverpool combines rhythm section briskness with keyboard density for an upbeat, faster rocker, with a fine Emerson organ solo in the finishing moments.

All in all, with 3.2 and Third Impression, Robert Berry once more keeps the significant musical influences of Keith Emerson alive by infusing them into his own creative musical arrangements. Third Impression is classic, and entertaining, melodic progressive rock, and easily recommended.




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The Bottom Line

With 3.2 and Third Impression, Robert Berry once more keeps the significant musical influences of Keith Emerson alive by infusing them into his own creative musical arrangements. Third Impression is classic, and entertaining, melodic progressive rock, and easily recommended.

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