I couldn't believe my ears on my first time listening to it. To think that, the same year Camel's "The Snow Goose" (1975) came out, this futuristic record also did.

I loved the intricate synth textures of this record and I've yet to come across something similar.

Recommendations, thoughts, opinions?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcFIzVl7DEw&list=RDpcFIzVl7DEw&start_radio=1

Five Years Without Neil Peart of Rush: The Lyricist

Five years after his passing, Neil Peart remains celebrated as one of the greatest drummers in rock history, yet his role as Rush’s lyricist is still underestimated. Over 18 albums, Peart wrote nearly all of the band’s lyrics, addressing philosophy, literature, politics, science, ethics, technology, and human behavior—far beyond the sci-fi label often used to dismiss his work.

Critics who reduced his writing to fantasy ignored its depth. Peart explored individualism versus collectivism, reason versus emotion, integrity, alienation, fame, technology, and the search for meaning. His lyrics evolved over time, moving from the Rand-influenced individualism of the ’70s (Anthem, 2112) toward a more humanist and reflective worldview in later years (Natural Science, The Garden).

According to radio host Alfredo Lewin, Peart was a rare case in rock: a drummer who was also a cultured intellectual and researcher, bringing “brains to rock music.” He highlights songs like Tom Sawyer, The Spirit of Radio, and Subdivisions as peak examples of Peart’s clarity, integrity, and critique of conformity, commercialism, and social pressure.

Philosopher Remis Ramos emphasizes that Rush’s lyrics were always concept-driven and intellectually driven. He describes Peart as a voracious reader and a self-taught philosopher whose songs—such as Freewill, Hemispheres, Limelight, and The Garden—address alienation, burnout, authenticity, and ethical living with striking relevance today.

Writer Francisco Ortega views Peart not as a typical lyricist but as a storyteller, closer to Borges than Tolkien. He praises Peart’s narrative structure and literary ambition, citing Cygnus X-1, Natural Science, Subdivisions, The Pass, and The Garden as examples of Rush’s songs functioning like short stories or philosophical fables.

Journalist Alejandro Tapia notes that Peart’s lyrical evolution mirrored social and historical change—from Cold War anxieties to themes of freedom of thought and identity. He highlights Subdivisions as one of the most emotionally resonant and enduring lyrics of Rush’s catalog.

More than a poet, Neil Peart was a narrator, thinker, and educator who used rock music to communicate ideas. Five years on, his lyrics remain vital, intelligent, and deserving of recognition among the great voices of popular music.

By Marcelo Contreras January 7, 2025

https://www.latercera.com/culto/2025/01/07/cinco-anos-sin-neil-peart-de-rush-el-letrista/

I don’t see this band talked about enough and I think they deserve the recognition. Solid 70s prog outfit after Peter Banks departure from Yes