Matt Rink

August 1, 2002

Out of San Diego, California comes this independent prog artist. The quintet consists of founding members (as well as co-songwriters and producers) Neal Hedegard and Roger Nigg (Guitars and Drums, respectively), and is rounded out by Chris Kokesh (Keys), Alan Smithey (bass), and Richard Pavelec (Vocals). Left Coast plays a colorful, hard rock style, with electrifying instrumentation and bluesy/proto vocals.

While not perfect, this charged up debut has enough melody, maturity, and fire to constitute a formidable release within the realm of progressive rock. Touching ballads, delicate rockers, and spirited instrumetals combine to make Worlds of Mystery, a truly unique and enjoyable offering. The vocalist is reported to have a vey Bowie-like voice, and though I'm not really familiar enough to register a tremedously educated opinion, I'll say he reminds me little of the Bowie songs that I know. I hear more Roger Waters than I do David Bowie. No less, Richard Pavelec's performance on the CD is alluring, even if his lyric lines are at times akward at best. While their website, and every article written by a reviewer who barely made it past the band's promo material, will say that the band's sound bares a likeness to that of "Rush, Yes, and Queen", I have to confess to hearing little traces of these artists. Unfortunately, I don't have anything better to suggest, as I'm pretty hard-pressed to pigeon-hole these guys as any kind of sound-alike. The closest I can conjure is a more thinly-produced Ice Age, with a hint of modern rock sensability. Good stuff. I look forward to hearing more from these guys.

-Matthew A Rink (senior reviewer)

Rating: B / 8.6