Alan Parsons-The Secret (2019)

Fifteen years after Alan Parsons' last solo studio release, "A Valid Path" (2004), the musician and producer returned with a large lineup of musical collaborators for a new work titled "The Secret", a concept album based on the art of magic, one of the artist's fascinations. While hardly a full-fledged progressive rock concept album, what we have here is an impeccable production of smooth rock and pop melodies and elegant ballads with highly refined vocals, soothing harmonies, and rich orchestration, all in the classic tradition of the defunct Alan Parsons Project. Among the extensive list of collaborators are former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett, former Foreigner vocalist Lou Gramm, bassist Nathan East, vocalists Jason Mraz, Mark Mikel, and Todd Cooper, drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, and his regular guitarist Ian Bairnson. An album that ranges from grandiose, orchestral moments like "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" and "One Note Symphony", to catchy pop-rock melodies like "Miracle", "As Lights Fall", and "The Limelight Fades Away", passing through the brilliant ballads "Soiree Fantastique", "Years of Glory", and "Fly to Me", without neglecting the timeless sound of his main band with tracks like "Sometimes" and "Requiem". With all this, the legendary producer, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist once again demonstrated why he is one of the great musical geniuses of the last 50 years, leaving for posterity an extraordinary album of dazzling, addictive, and catchy pop-rock tracks, superbly produced with his signature orchestral touches.