SHAME

Shame indeed!! Sometimes I can understand why there are so many neo prog detractors among musical circles. Take this great band ofr instance: after releasing a terrific instrumental live album as a debut (1981´s Live At The Target) and a prog classic (Fact & Fiction, in 1982), the group lost its singer an poet Geoff Mann. the musical direction and sense of purpose too seem to be gone along the way too. This single antecipated the disaster the X album would be. Art & Ilusion (1984) was a mini album that showed the changing of styles, but could anyone expect them to go so low? Instead of their great mix of new wave and 70´s progressive rock, we have the techno/pop/funk of bands like Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, Adam And The Ants and Classix Noveaux were dabbing with in the late 70´s/early 80´s. Worst still, it´s not even good pop, Andy Sears voice is particularly dire!

I´m really glad this single sank without a trace. Twelfth Night was probably the most musical accomplished and technical bands to appear in the early stages of the neo prog movement and they once had a singer that could rival Fish in terms of charisma, talent for words and inspiration. However, by 1986 they were reduced to a sub Visage-like group that was at least 5 years late in terms of musical fashion. Not even the bublegum pop world would take such blaring act of exploitation.

They really had to call it quits soon after those things were released. Fortunatly it is unliked you´ll find this single around, unless in the hands of a hardcore completionist or (like me) lost in some basement among several other forgetable stuff from the 80´s. But if you do, avoid it, just like the album. Like Marillion, IQ and others, Twelfth Night did its share to bring prog back to the spotlight in the dark ages, so they don´t deserve to be remembered by this big, bad, mistake. Shame, really.