FACT AND FICTION

One of the first and most important bands to appear in the early eighties as part of the so called neo prog movement, Twelfth Night was a quite unique group because they draw their influences as much from the 70´s great groups (Genesis, Van der Graaf Generator, etc) as to a lot contemporaries artists of the day, like Joy Division and Magazine. Their sound was not as much a revivalist symphonic rock of old in the vein of Marillion and IQ, but something quite new and advanced for the time. And Fact And Fiction is truly their crowning achievement. The perfect mix the band´s great skill and musical creativity - already shown with their instrumental debut Live At The Target (1981) combined with Geoff Mann´s original vocal style and clever lyrics.

It is not an easy listening album, though. It takes some time to really sink in. The music sounded bland to me at first, but after several spins I could hear all the many subtleties and nuances that make this CD one of the best in my collection and more than justifies its masterpiece status. Geoff Mann´s words are intelligent, insightful and, sometimes, disturbing. They dealt with several issues of the modern world, specially madness and solitude. His singing is quite original but he does remind me of another rock poet, Joy Division´s Ian Curtis, both on the themes chosen and the way they deliver the message. Certainly Mann is way a less tragic person than Curtis, but there are certain similarities. Musicly speaking the band wrapped up the themes with some very fine melodies, using both old styled prog and some new wave timbres and colours to give it a modern, original, feel (plus a little of what Peter Gabriel was doing solo at the time). Andy Revell did not get his fame as being one of the hottest new guitarrists then for nothing. His guitar lines and solos are amazing and yet quite discreet for a neo prog band (although the Steve Hackett/David Gilmour influences are obvious on several parts). Although the group recorded Fact & Fiction as a foursome, Clive Mitten handles the keyboards parts beautifully (besides his excellent bass playing). You´ll hardly notice the missing Rick Battersby (who would rejoined them soon after this record was out).

On the down side, the production is far from ideal for such complex and delicate wall of sound. If they were signed to a bigger record label than they would be served with a better recording capacity. However, the performances are so brilliant the weak production becomes a minor detail only. Songs like the Human Being, Creepshow and We Are Sane are the highlights, along with the fine instrumental The Poet Sniffs A Flower and the album closer, the beautiful ballad Love Song.

Conclusion: definitly one of the best ever prog rock records released in the 80´s and Twelfth Night´s tour de force. The album stood very well the test of time and its power is undeniable. Along with Marillion´s Script For A Jester´s Tear and IQ´s Songs From The Attic it showed the world that progressive music was alive and well and young, and ready to conquer a whole new generation of fans. Both lyricaly and musically Fact & Fiction is a tremendous powerful piece of work.

Rating: 5 stars. Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music.