The Absolute Universe: The Breath Of Life (Abridged Version) Vinyl 2LP + CD Transatlantic

Transatlantic have never been a band to resist a challenge. So it should come as no surprise that for their fifth album ‘The Absolute Universe’, Neal Morse Roine Stolt Pete Trewavas and Mike Portnoy have really gone out to do something a little unusual. “We have actually come up with something unprecedented,” says Portnoy proudly. “We’ve got two versions of this album. There’s a two CD presentation (‘Forevermore’), which is 90 minutes long, and a single one (‘The Breath Of Life’) – that’s 60 minutes. The single CD is NOT an edited version of the double CD. They’re new recordings. What we have done are different approaches to the songs for this! We wrote fresh lyrics and have different people singing on the single CD version tracks as compared to those on the double CD. We revamped the songs to make the two versions different.”

For this record, the band have also returned to the concept album format: “What we have is essentially one giant composition, split into chapters. The storyline is about the struggles facing everyone in society today” comments Portnoy. “We didn’t start out with the idea of this being conceptual,” admits Stolt. “The way things work with us is that we have a load of ideas, and these are developed spontaneously when we meet up. Everything happens in the moment.” For Trewavas, ‘The Absolute Universe’ is a momentous project. “I think it is right up there with the very finest albums we’ve done.”

‘The Absolute Universe – The Breath of Life’ is available as a Limited CD Digipak, Gatefold 2LP + CD & as Digital Album. ‘The Absolute Universe – Forevermore’ is available as a Limited 2CD Digipak, 3LP+2CD Boxset & as Digital Album. ‘The Absolute Universe – The Ultimate Edition’ collects both versions together as a Limited Deluxe Clear 5LP + 3CD + Blu-ray box-set, featuring expanded 16page LP-booklet, 5.1 surround sound mix with visuals, making-of documentary, 60x60cm poster – contained within a lift-off box finished with silver foil.

The Absolute Universe: The Bridge Of Life (Abridged Version) – CD 3

1. Overture
2. Reaching For The Sky
3. Higher Than The Morning
4. The Darkness In The Light
5. Take Now My Soul
6. Looking For The Light
7. Love Made A Way (Prelude)
8. Owl Howl
9. Solitude
10. Belong
11. Can You Feel It
12. Looking For The Light (Reprise)
13. The Greatest Story Never Ends
14. Love Made A Way

The Absolute Universe: The Bridge Of Life (Abridged Version) – LP4 Side A

1. Overture
2. Reaching For The Sky
3. Higher Than The Morning

Side B

1. The Darkness In The Light
2. Take Now My Soul
3. Looking For The Light

LP5 – Side C

1. Love Made A Way (Prelude)
2. Owl Howl
3. Solitude

Side D

1. Belong
2. Can You Feel It
3. Looking For The Light (Reprise)
4. The Greatest Story Never Ends
5. Love Made A Way