3 O'CLOCK SKY

Here's an almost unreviewed fine artist I just found by shuffling through Eclectic Prog subgenre. The British musician and composer Neil Campbell, with or without Collective, has released over ten albums. This is the first "Collective" album, preceded by Night Sketches (2004) for solo acoustic guitar, which is Neil's main instrument.

I have no wider perspective to Campbell's output. Upon a very quick listening, his solo guitar music sounds excellent, and my initial reception for this group effort is also very positive, albeit naturally in a totally different way. The songs are not very progressive for their structures, but they are sophisticated and elegant in their rather moody atmosphere. Also the vocals are pleasant, not anyhow unique although I cannot quickly name a similar voice. Maybe John Miles or Stanley Whitaker of Happy The Man, although less smoky or distinctive than either of them. I guess the tone of Campbell's voice is in the end so 'ordinary' that it's hard to remember where you've heard a similar voice. Anyway I like it.

The shortish eight-track album starts with 'Rainstorm' and 'The Rain Remembers', both featuring some weather sound effects in a delicate manner. I especially enjoy the latter, melodic and melancholic song. The excellently played acoustic guitar is the key instrument in the arrangements, and often the cello played by Nicole Collarbone is essential, making the sound warmer throughout the album. Keyboards are restricted to Wurlitzer piano (played by Neil himself). Several songs such as 'Last Orders' stand more or less in the mainstream (relatively calm and suitably poppy indie rock with a faint country flavour) but they sound much more elegant -- sorry for repeating that word! -- than mainstream stuff, mainly due to acoustic guitar and cello. The rock aspect is fairly reduced but the electric guitar is more powerful on '3 AM song'.

My favourite song is 'Heaven' which has a dreamy atmosphere and truly wonderful melodies. The female backing vocals are very nice, and I wished to hear more of them on the whole album. The songwriting itself is at its best on this song, but all pieces are good and beautifully arranged. The final piece 'Rainstorm Part 2' is instrumental and also proggier than the album in general.

All in all, don't expect of highly eclectic progressive rock, instead you better orientate yourself for rather serene, ambientish popular music with an emphasis on virtuotic acoustic guitar. Hey, here's a good comparison in the overall spirit: Daniel Lanois and his excellent album Acadie (1989).