PLAYING DEAD

I have listened to this disc many times now, and my initial response was more positive than my current opinion of it. I find myself in agreement with fellow Archives reviewer James Lee, who writes that on PLAYING DEAD, Scottish prog-rockers Citizen Cain "rarely produce an emotional response; there's plenty of talent... but not enough feeling."

The band do a pretty workmanlike job of capturing some of the sound and feeling of early Genesis (an obvious inspiration), and vocalist Cyrus has a voice which is more than slightly similar to Peter Gabriel's, but PLAYING DEAD does not offer the diversity of moods to be found on albums like FOXTROT or SELLING ENGLAND BY THE POUND. Whereas early Genesis is, by turns, powerful, majestic, daunting, beautiful, and light-hearted, Citizen Cain adhere far too much to a bland, grey palette of lyrical bitterness and gloom (they seem to be a tad upset with the Supreme Being), and depressingly dirge-like tempos and atmospheres. In short, this album brings me down, and wearies me -- I find it a decided chore to get through in a single session.

Citizen Cain have obvious talent, and the album is "not without its moments," but the sections that begin to capture my interest are far too few and fleeting. As James noted, the song "Inner Silence," with its "and now for something completely different" Monty Python sample, would seem to proffer some light-hearted relief from the overall bombast and darkness, but it is not to be -- we are soon plunged willy-nilly back into the pit of despair. Beauty (in the guise of some nice piano and evocative lyrics, sensitively sung) does manage to rear its pretty head for a quick look around on the final track, "Eternity," but by that time, having slogged through such vast expanses of dank musical mire to find her, I am rather sullied, and no fitting company for such a fair lady. Too little, too late!

Thus, PLAYING DEAD does not accord with my tastes -- I like more variety, both musically and thematically, in my progressive rock, and there is a dearth of that here. If, however, you have a taste for dark and somber prog, are upset with God, or are just too darned cheery for your own good, you may "enjoy" this. For this reviewer, however, it is far too bitter a pill to willingly swallow entire. For fans only.