SHINE ON BRIGHTLY

Shine on Brightly is the second studio album from british pop/ rock act Procol Harum. Their debut album was a groundbreaking album which pioneered the use of both an organ and a piano player in a pop/ rock band. In addition to that it featured the multi million selling single and pop/ rock evergreen A Whiter Shade of Pale. With this in mind there were big expectations for the follow up album from the band. Shine on Brightly is a very worthy follow up and really shows Procol Harum at their most progressive.

The music is piano/ organ driven pop/ rock with very strong and memorable vocal lines. The mood is generally melancholic and there are some truly beautiful moments on the album. The big attraction on Shine on Brightly in addition to the normal length songs, of which there are six, is the 17:31 minute long epic In Held Twas in I. One of the first long epic progressive songs. Genesis owe so much to Procol Harum IMO. Both the vocal style of Gary Brooker, the piano runs and the general mood in the music reminds me of Peter Gabriel era Genesis. The song seemed a bit fracmented the first couple of times I listened to it, but it´s like it all falls into place the more I listen to it. It´s such a beautiful and intriguing song. The shorter songs are equally as exciting IMO. They are not that progressive in structure but the melancholic mood and the beautiful interplay between piano, organ, guitar, bass, drums and the strong melody lines really graps my attention.

The musicianship is excellent on this album. Gary Brooker is such an emotional vocalist and a really great piano player as well. The organ from Matthew Fisher is a pivotal part of creating the unique mood in the music while the soulful guitar playing from Robin Trower colours the music greatly. The rythm section is probably the most unremarkable thing on Shine on Brightly but they still do a great job.

The production is much better than on the debut and even though it´s far from excellent it´s still very enjoyable. I´d go as far as to call it charming.

Shine on Brightly has taken me by storm. I´m really impressed with this album. I expected great things after listening to the debut, but Shine on Brightly far exceeds my expectations. I´m on the verge of giving this the masterpiece stamp and I might do just that some time in the future, but right now this is a BIG 4 star rating. For fans of early Genesis this should hold a great deal of interest.