Posted on: April 19, 2011 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

The guitar work that begins “Reality of the Fantasy” showcases a level of emotion that is a constant throughout the 9 cuts on the album. The care taken in the creation of these arrangements will immediately endear Sera to anyone listening in, all while creating a wholly unique style that resonates through the album. The rich narrative quality of the guitar work is something that is just not heard in much current music, and showcases Sera’s skill as a musician.

“The Ascension” gives listeners a much different view of Sera, as the darker feel and slower tempo of the track is hammered home with smart repetition. Sailing through the two styles broached during the introductory salvos, Sera crafts an utterly amazing track in “Day of Celebration”. Again, the guitar is all that is needed to create a full story for listeners, and the way in which Sera does it will shock and awe fans. The tight and dense arrangements that are present in “Day of Celebration” will require a number of listens to unravel; this creates an album that is decidedly more than its constituent parts. “Reality of the Fantasy” breaks down the idea that albums are merely vehicles for a few singles and requires that listeners focus in from the beginning all the way out to the album’s conclusion.

The titular track to “Reality of the Fantasy”, the disc’s penultimate track, shows listeners that the late reaches of an album can be at least as compelling as the first half. The soundscape created during this track imbues upon listeners a sense of walking through the woods, marveling at all of life’s wonders. This track works well with the album’s final cut, “Someway, Somehow”. “Someway, Somehow” slows things further and is a strong end to an emotional and affecting disc. We at NeuFutur were not familiar with Sera before receiving “Reality of the Fantasy”, but we will be keeping our ear to the ground for news about him in the months and years to come.

Top Tracks: The Ascension, Day of Celebration

Rating: 8.5/10

James Sera – Reality of the Fantasy (CD) / 2011 Self / 9 Tracks / http://www.myspace.com/jamessera /

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