Sean Filkins - War and Peace & other short stories (F2 Music 2011)
Last Updated on Sunday, 13 November 2011 20:44 Written by Ken Foster
Sean Filkins was previously better known as singer with Big Big Train on albums such as The Difference Machine. In fact it was through my discovery of BBT's back catalogue that I got to know his work.
Solo albums are often mere vanity experiments or dalliances but here we have a major statement in both writing and vocal prowess.
War and Peace is one of those albums that makes a big impression on first listening. Its a thoroughbred prog album with all the necessary ingredients and very strong writing and melody. As you'd expect Filkins vocals are to the fore and showcased in spectacular fashion on the 30+ minute Prisoner of Conscience Part 1 & 2. The essential Englishness which so characterizes BBT is also evident here. From the Jerusalem sample and clinking tea cups at the onset of Are You Sitting Comfortably through the introspective English Eccentric, there's a sense of cleansing some inner demons and a celebration, acknowledgement and catharsis of parts of his past.
As well as being a seminal prog song Prisoner.. is also imbued with poignant lyrics:
'I was their destiny, and I led them like a siren to the shore.
Now i'm haunted by the ghosts of all the innocent,
that I surrendered to death's door'
The track has many subtle changes of mood from indian rhythms to Gilmour style riffs and Anderson style vocal passages. Interesting though that in my mind it is the musical structure that bears similarity to that of the Yes frontman rather than the sound.
Lee Abraham played a big part in the making of the album and his influence shows to good effect on the back of his own excellent 2010 Black & White album which is also well worth seeking out.
I read that Epitaph For A Mariner was a tribute to Sean's own grandfather William Pull and becomes especially moving in that context. If the epic Prisoner stands at the fulcrum of this album then Epitaph provides the straddling spiritual energy. The haunting intro leads into a pulsating electronics/guitar passage (kind of Tangerine Dream meets 70's Genesis) followed by a post frenzy ambience leading to a climactic finale with double tracked vocals and some monumental keyboard/guitar soloing.
I'd go as far as to say this an essential album to own and a definite contender for album of the year. I'm already looking forward to the next album in what could be a very interesting solo oeuvre.
Rating: 4.5/5
Konchordat - The New Crusade - CD 2011
Written by Ken Foster
The New Crusade is the follow up to the acclaimed 2009 album English Ghosts and shows why Konchordat are being touted as one of best of the current crop of Neo-Prog bands. Now with Stuart Martin as a permanent member after his session duties on ‘Ghosts‘, The New Crusade will please lovers of symphonic prog with epic riffs and a healthy dose of neo-prog melodies.
Panic Room is a tour de force here with the excellent production complementing a fully rounded and well crafted song structure. I particularly like the way synth and guitar harmonise on this album. There are shades of Camel, Big Big Train and Genesis. The slightly heavier neo feel has an American sounding aspect – Kansas or Styx perhaps (particularly on Coming Of Age).
The overall effect is a pleasing blend of UK and US prog styles. Definitely an album for lovers of well formed melodic prog with a capital P.
Rating: 4/5
Buy the CD from Prog Megastore Here
Hess & Franzen [ClosedLockedSealed] - CD Baby download & Ltd CD
Last Updated on Monday, 07 November 2011 19:40 Written by Ken Foster
At the risk of sounding anal, an instrumental prog-ish (small 'p') album with interesting time signatures is pretty much on safe ground here. So, wearing an objective hat I also have to concur that this is a revelation.
An unlikely collaboration between Bristol (Hess) and Brazil (Franzen) opens with the blistering Quick Space Threat, which delivers on its promise - sharp metallic almost threatening in an unnerving way. Gobi Desert Search For SS Cotopaxi has a stronger metal overtone but the Mars Volta weight is punctuated by an earthy organ reminiscent (in sound) of the Doors or Greenslade.
Don't expect psychedelia. Think Larry Fast circa sequencer combined with heavy King Crimson, a dose of Riverside plus some Darryl Way style riffing.
Mantis slows down the pace to give a much needed breather (the only track to feature albeit heavily treated vocals). I'm reminded of Annette Peacock on Bruford's Feels Good To Me.
China Inox delves into Brand X, Collosseum II territory and the complexity of the piece benefits repeated listening before the 'theme' of the album is returned to during Doomsday Device - distorted staccato riffing competing with right hand keyboard runs.
The stunningly chaotic When I Get Out Of This Place is but an appetite whetter for the glorious climax of Magic Cat, a track which builds on the themes created by its predecessors. The keyboard run at the end of this piece reminiscent of Apocalypse in 9/8.
This album is going to please Prog Metal afficianados first and foremost, but there's plenty for lovers of prog in general, the avant garde and indeed jazz rock to sink your teeth into. A stunning debut which is highly recommended. Only 300 of the CD's have been pressed in a stunning anti-static LP sized package, so get your hands on what is sure to become a collectors item.
Rating: 4/5
Films Of Colour - Slow burn (Free Download 7/11/11)
Last Updated on Monday, 07 November 2011 20:11
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This superb cover of Bowie's Slow Burn by London's Films of Colour has not only been endorsed by the man himself but famed producer Tony Visconti was so impressed by the video that he flew over to catch the band live. Visconti is now in the running to produce the band's debut album after passing the track onto Bowie.
Films Of Colour are supporting The Parlotones at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire on Wednesday 09th November and Dexter at Koko on the 02nd December.
The track Slow Burn is from Bowie's 2002 album 'Heathen'. Available as a free download from the 31st October from www.davidbowie.com & www.filmsofcolour.com
Nth Ascension - Frequencies Of Day And Night
Last Updated on Friday, 28 October 2011 22:19 Written by Ken Foster
Newcomers on the prog scene Nth Ascension's debut album Frequencies of Day and Night is a fascinating blend of epic orchestral soundscapes and guitar based classic rock. The former style typical of the album's instrumental opener 'The Prize' which builds a moody prologue. 'Out of the fire' is a more straightforward rocker which suffers from a rather poor mix but does have a stunning guitar solo as its climax. The vocals are a little raw and jagged in places.
The band are at their best and most confident on tracks like 'Running To Nowhere' where fast paced harmonies between keyboards and guitar work really well. The album has a couple of extended pieces with 'Sound To Light' coming in at over 13 minutes being undoubtedly one of the highlights of this collection. There are even shades of Rush, Floyd and Tangerine Dream as the track reaches it's peak. Quantization has been shunned in favour of a live feel and that's kind of refreshing these days with Taylor's Schulman-like vocals working to good effect on this particular track. On 'Return of the King', the band arrive at the point promised by the earlier tracks which by contrast serve as a taster to a glorious three minutes which left me ironically wishing this was the longer piece.
The album culminates with the 16:40 'The Cage', a departure (initially at least) into more predictable prog metal territory. After around 4:30 the track takes on an altogether more mellow feel before reverting back to a heavier riff. There are snatches of keyboard runs which I hoped would go on for longer as the band seem comfortable in soloing mode. The closing section to the piece promises much but is ultimately plodding. The untitled bonus track returns to Kraftwerk territory which to this listener is a more rewarding journey. So a fairly mixed bag. I get the feeling of a band unsure of its own direction but there is definitely much promise here.
CD is available at gigs - Website here
Matt Stevens - Relic (Burning Shed)
Written by Ken Foster
Post rock in a flamenco style sounds odd doesn't it. It's nothing like that of course. Matt's music provides flavours, colours and patterns which have finally attracted the attention of the super cool Burning Shed label. Lest you feel comfortable however, because that semi-structured passage is about to be reversed and will categorically mess with your head (but in a good way).
Those of you familiar with Matt's work will instantly recognise the style of Nightbus and live favourite Rusty. The former could easily be mistaken for Matt's post rock ensemble The Fierce and the Dead (also worth seeking out). Relic (the title track) delivers a statement of intent that is unsettling in its complex simplicity. If that's a contradiction then you are close to understanding the effect of Matt's music because the complexity isn't gratuitous.
20 GOTO 10 has a comforting Fripp series of repetitive but fractured notes before the spanish flavoured Rushden Fair returns a semblance of order to the proceedings.
On 'Scapegoat' Matt takes an unusual time signature and reaches a point where I can finally define his sound. Not literally of course. More a feeling of diverging paths finally coming together and making sense. It's a track I've played over and over because it hits that post rock space (that zenith) that is difficult to find (unless you are Mogwai of course). It is beautiful, haunting and challenging all at once.
Sand (Part 2) develops into the audio representation of a complex equation and the looping frenzy which draws the album to a close shifts the balance of the preceding 5 minutes firmly off the fulcrum.
'Frost' again has the Fripp guitar sound circa Red with some Heavy Construkction thrown in for good measure. Up is... well Up and pretty much how i feel about this album.
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