POLARCHORAL

Mysterious British multi-instrumentalist enlists the help of some mighty friends to produce this, his fifth studio album release since 2011; an eclectic if Mark Hollis/Porcupine Tree/No-Man-like collection of songs.

1. "Involution" (7:35) No-Man/Tim Bowness with some great atmospheric sound similar to the great David Sylvian/Steve Jansen soundscapes. Great atmosphere, great drumming, great Steven Wilson-like vocal flourishes. A top three song. (14/15)

2. "Damage Done" (5:08) the heavier side of Grice--which makes this song a particular standout on this very Mark Hollis-like album. Another top three song. (9/10)

3. "Winter" (7:16) a David Sylvian Secrets of the Beehive-era / Jessie Colin Young song w/CSN vocal harmonies. (13.5/15)

4. "Without Her" (4:54) sounds like a Paul McCartney vocal and song. Even the quirky, insipid and nonsensical lyrics and nearly upbeat melody lines are quite McCartney-like. (8.25/10)

5. "Saviour" (5:52) a fairly straightforward pop song in the style of some of Britain's 1980s masters. I just wish I heard lyrics, otherwise, this is nothing very special. (8.5/10)

6. "Alarm Bells" (10:26) feels quite a bit like a Mark Hollis song--early Post Rock Talk Talk as well as final solo career. The drumming, spacious soundscape, and Mark Isham/Kenny Wheeler-like trumpet play are the highlights for me despite the nice vocal performance. I'm rather doubtful of the necessity for this song to go on for ten minutes, though. (18/20)

7. "Band of Brothers" (5:09) despite Grice's Mark Hollis performance here this is the song that really reveals his mastery at borrowing riffs, sounds, chord progressions, etc. from a broad spectrum of artists and hit records from the distant past. So many stolen artifices! (8.5/10)

8. "Legend" (5:32) a very nice song that is again highlighted by the wonderful trumpet play, synth washes, and vocal performance (of some more sadly insipid lyrics). (8.75/10)

9. "Polarchoral" (14:05) one of the proggiest songs on the album despite its rather constant pace, chord progression, and jam style; the performances by all of the thickly populated weave's contributors is wonderful, start to finish, though I will single out the drummer, Robert Brian, Indian percussionist, Hossam Ramzy, bass player (Al Swainger), drone Hammond (Grice), and guitarists (pedal steel), and vocalists (Suzanne Barbieri on background vocals). It's just a great weave--very simple and cohesive for the first five minutes--until the vocalists sing their initial dreamy lyrics. After that each and every instrumentalists gets some solo time as the weave becomes more animated and undulating. My favorite song on the album. (28/30)

10. "Lapis Lazuli" (4:09) another atmospheric David Sylvian/Tim Bowness-like near-ambient song. (8.5/10)

11. "Saviour (single)" (4:18) didn't really think much of this one in its "uncut" album version; this is no better. (8.5/10)

Total Time 74:24

B+/4.5 stars; a near-masterpiece of atmospheric progressive rock music.