There have been a lot of genres that have been revived over the years, but sounds as obscure as 80s prog rock have been long buried, and brought back from the dead by Daniel Santiago in his new single Song for Tomorrow.

Right off the bat, the production really sells the whole tone of the song. It feels like the composition sits comfortably floating on a pool of reverb, which is extremely reminiscent of conventional 80s production. The song already starts right away with a high drive, and dips for to give breathing space for the verses. The melodies beautifully compliment the heavy layered instrumentation, filled with guitars of all kinds, both acoustic and electric, strummed and plucked. The harmonies in the second half of the chorus really hone in the prog-rock feel this song already had from the get go. It’s not as complicated as the late-80s acts such as rush or early-Dream Theater, but rather bands like Genesis and Gentle Giant, if they had kept that classic prog feel onwards in their careers. Though it’s similar in tone and feel, this very much feels like its own product, and has a very interesting way of progressing. The energy level introduced in the intro is almost the peak of the song, dynamically speaking, and stays the same until the very end where a guitar solo brings the tune to a close. It’s a means that isn’t strange, or unheard of, but definitely an interesting approach to songwriting that compliments the prog-rock umbrella all so well.

Song for Tomorrow is a wonderful, authentic window into a genre that most people most likely forgot. When I first heard it, I had to make sure this wasn’t a re-issue, rather than a new release. The guitar solo at the end is the absolute peak of this song, beautifully aiding the melody and carrying the song to its end, it’s utterly beautiful. I think this will reignite a spark in people who enjoy or enjoyed this type of music, and encourage all to explore more of Santiago’s work.

Author: Nicholas Gaudet

Music producer and writer from Dieppe, Canada.