Saga Trust

2006, Saga have accomplished almost 30 years of music history with sixteen studio albums, three live releases and eight compilations generating millions of album sales around the world. In addition, they have performed concerts in over 20 countries in front of a combined audience of about 15 million fans. So what kind of challenge is posed by a new studio album? "There is always an incentive" says Michael Sadler, vocalist, keyboardist and founding member of the successful Canadian quintet. "The biggest challenge we face now at this point in our career is to preserve our original style as much as possible and also try to integrate as many fresh new ideas into Saga's sound as we can".
The melodic progsters succeed with album number 17, succinctly and ambivalently titled "Trust". "Trust" comes two years after their last release "Network". "This album is a continuation of our last record", explains Sadler. "It's different in that we very deliberately made an attempt to revive a few of the more progressive elements from our earlier albums. It's something that our fans have wanted us to do for a long time and we wanted to try this as much as possible without limiting our creativity. I don't want to give away too much before the release of "Trust". I like the idea of an audience that doesn't really know what to expect from us".
Sorry, Mr. Sadler but you really ought to give us a few more clues... "Trust" encompasses a sound that Saga have become well known for, symphonic rock full of bombastic keyboard and guitar melodies, shaped by virtuoso performances and driven by an agile and creative rhythm section (with new drummer Brian Doerner really shining). The band has always featured brilliant solos and stand out vocals. "On The Other Side" impressively demonstrates some of those "fresh ideas" that Sadler previously mentioned. Starting out like an Irish folk tune with accordion and a melancholic undertone, the song has a Gentle Giant feel to it with its combination of guitar, organ, synth bass and a vibraphone arpeggio, it moves into the classic Saga sound with its huge melodies.
This harks back to the group's first albums, which are still considered by many as being their best work. It was these first few releases which brought them the reputation of being the first neo prog band. "Trust" however actually sounds better than their 1978 self-titled debut and its successors "Images At Twilight" and "Silent Knight". The sounds are much more varied, the songs more mature, and the arrangements much more detailed and dynamic. This is the result of experienced musicians who are constantly seeking new challenges and never content to rest on their laurels.
Songs like "We Were Right" show a powerful rock aspect to the band, while "I'm OK" focuses on the progressive side and "My Friend" (a ballad complete with woodwind players and a classical touch) nicely displays an as yet unseen side of the band. They make "Trust" as multi-facetted as the album title itself. "Trust is a word which gives rise to many different reactions" Sadler says. "It can be something good, something painfully necessary, something frustrating or hopeful, each depending on the situation and the people who use the word or hear it. A few songs deal with this topic, but all in all 'Trust' is just a collection of well written songs by a band of good friends for an audience helping us to have fun with the things we are doing".
The album will be released as a special edition (first edition comes as a digipack) with a bonus DVD featuring the making of the album. incl. bonus DVD "Making of Trust"