THE WATER ROAD

Easily the band's best album to date and one that conjures up the very best of vintage Britsh prog of the seventies, whilst still sounding fresh and innovative. There are echoes of King Crimson particularly in the use of melltron alonside flute and recorders and in some of Phil Mercy's guitar tones, perhaps there's a touch of Gentle Giant's influence in some of the more complex arrangements and ambitious lyrics, but never to the degree that the music could be called derivative. This is an album of gloriously individual progresive music, fuzing jazz, symphonic, classical, rock and folk elements in a way I think I've hardly ever heard from a band since the seventies - probablyAnglagard would be the last occassion. Thomas Johnson formerly of Anglagard plays keyboards in the band and provides fantastic work throughout the disk alongside Amy Darby - vocals, recorders, clarinet, Phil Mercy - Guitars, Andy Bonham - Bass and Mark Robotham - Drums. The group are augmented by Anna Holmgren on flute on several tracks and occassionally add cello, oboe and saxophone.

I've enjoyed all the band's albums and thought Shibboleth was excellent, but nothing prepared me for the giant leap forward they have made with The Water Road. Of course everyone's tastes are different and undoubtedly many won't be as enamoured of this album as I am and it's always a little daunting giving five stars to an album having only lived with it for a few weeks - but I am sure it's a release well worth seeking out for anyone who enjoyed the heady days of British prog during the seventies and, for me, one of the best progressive releases in years.

Highly reccommded!

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