A composition filled with strong music and even stronger themes, Patrick Ryan delivers a powerful, soulful and captivating album filled with songs of love and social consciousness.

'Down From Space' was the first song, whimsical in tone with a touch of beach music influence. This sweet love song carries you away. Then the album gets serious with 'Knowledge', which starts off with a woman being interviewed about her marijuana habit. The song is reminiscent of the folk songs of the 70s, where the happy go lucky beat is offset by serious lyrics. 'In Dreams Tonight' has gorgeous music with a stirring message. This was my favorite piece in the album.

'Paradise' was like a beach of waves cascading over and ebbing away from the sand where after a long instrumental it comes back strong, ebbs, and comes back again. 'Crazy Mind' was cool and frantic, much like music you'd find in a spy film.

'Prince of Power' had definite influences of different ethnic components in this piece. The music is indeed powerful and sultry, luring us in and hitting us with words of empowerment. 'I Stand Alone' and 'Only Love' were Reggae influenced, the latter one of the few love songs but sweetly touched with endearing melancholy.

'Nothing You Can Do' is by far the most rock infused piece with a rebellious electric guitar challenging the listener. Following right after is 'Foolishness' which uses the same trick as 'Knowledge'. They interject the song with excerpts from a radio interview about a man giving a little insight in to marijuana. The song would definitely be controversial if it played on the radio waves today.

'Simpatico', meaning 'pleasant' in Spanish, also had many worldly influences. However, this was the first song whose music matched the lyrics, angry, filled with warning and fast paced, this is for one scorned. 'Photosynthesis' follows this trend.

And finally, 'Nos Vemos Manana', translated from Spanish, 'See You Around Tomorrow', was a soft, easy listening close to the album.

I thoroughly enjoyed Patrick Ryan's work. While most singers / songwriters focus only on love songs, this was an album that went into stories and themes with a shrewd understanding of human affairs and had music that was uplifting and easy to listen to. This album is an exercise in contradictions that work well, music that is deceptively upbeat and lively that backup lyrics that are serious and intelligent. I would highly recommend this to anyone who wants something that vears away from simple love songs and dance tracks and wants something to really get them thinking.