FANFARE & FANTASY

• Prelude, Riff And Fugue Disobey, 2011
• The Student Prince Part 1 Disobey, 2011
• Fanfare and Fantasy - sampler Fanfare & Fantasy, 2013
• Something she said Fanfare & Fantasy, 2013

"Matters our actions, more than our years"

Having taken several decades(!) to release their first album, "Fanfare and fantasy" is Comedy of Error's second album in as many years. Since the release of "Disobey" in 2011, Bruce Levick has become a full band member has become a full band member, with John Fitzgerald also joining the line up. Fitzgerald joined late in the recording of the album, so his contribution is limited to backing vocals here, but he is now fully installed as the band's bassist. The founding trio of Joe Cairney, Jim Johnston and Mark Spalding remains intact, with Johnston once again writing all the material.

While "Disobey" was a landmark album of "neo-prog", "Fanfare and Fantasy" takes a more symphonic approach, the nine magnificent tracks here being carefully crafted masterpieces of the genre. While there is a wonderful familiarity in the style of the music, it is actually rather difficult to offer comparisons or to cite influences. At times there is a Pendragon feel in the lush keyboards, the superb lead guitar solos and indeed in the vocal style. At the same time though, one could mention bands such as Yes, Genesis, Camel etc., but all the while there is something different and refreshing about what we hear that offers genuine excitement.

In terms of the songs themselves, each stands alone as a symphonic masterpiece; collectively they form a truly wonderful whole. Lyrically too, Johnston has clearly spent many hours crafting each piece. "The cause" for example highlights the ubiquitous blight of religious divide. While the song clearly describes the problems that afflict his home country, the song remains the same the world over. The power and depth of the album, both lyrically and musically, is never more acute than it is here.

A cursory glance at the track listing by a prog fan may lead to a focusing on the three 9+ minute tracks but in reality all nine of the songs here are prog epics. Looking at the other long tracks though ("The cause" is mentioned above), "Fanfare for the broken hearted" makes for the ideal opener, building from a fine a cappella introductory vocal by Joe Cairney through every more uplifting lead guitar (Mark Spalding) and dazzling synth bursts (Jim Johnston). "The answer" closes the set with a suitably anthemic atmosphere, cumulating in an early Genesis style mellotron finale.

"Time's motet and Galliard" is interesting in that it is a two part piece with a traditional feel. The first part, "Time's motet" is a delightful instrumental, apparently dothing a cap to the 16th century composer Thomas Tallis. This becomes the folk influenced "Galliard", a fine Strawbs like number with mellotron style synths.

Completing the set, we have "Something she said", a 7 minute piece that sets out with something of a Yes feel, including Wakeman style organ. Here we are also treated to a wonderful blend of Emerson style keyboards and Pendragon-esque lead guitar. Try hard as I might to resist singling tracks out, this is a truly wonderful composition. "Going for a song" contrasts a distinctly upbeat melody with some decidedly stark lyrics. Johnston's Tony Banks like keyboard bursts punctuate the searing guitar and synth interludes and layers of chorale keyboards. "In a lifetime", "Merry dance" and "Remembrance" are the three shorter songs, but each nonetheless stands as a mini prog epic.

I am aware that I may appear to be overdoing the superlatives here. Believe me though, this is a truly special album. Anyone with a love of traditional prog would be well advised to partake of its delights, you will not be disappointed.

Send comments to Easy Livin (BETA) | Report this review (#933466) | Review Permalink
Posted Thursday, March 21, 2013

On Fanfare and Fantasy, Comedy of Errors do a decent job of capturing the early Marillion sound - heck, they even have the whole "glum character in a bedroom crammed with symbolic clutter" thing going on with the cover art - but happily this is only one influence on their sound. Jim Johnstone's keyboards not only sound absolutely gorgeous - in fact, the production and engineering on the album is excellent - but also incorporate a wider range of techniques than your typical neo-prog band, allowing Comedy of Errors to explore a wide range of musical territories. Joe Cairney's lead vocals also deserve a nod, showing as they do a flair for dramatic narratives worthy of Peter Gabriel or Fish whilst resisting the temptation to imitate either of them. Along with Galahad and Final Conflict, Comedy of Errors seem to be one of those neo-prog bands who've been slogging along for decades but are only recently flowering into their full potential, so I'll be interested to see where they go from here.

Send comments to Warthur (BETA) | Report this review (#941408) | Review Permalink
Posted Tuesday, April 09, 2013

Avec tambours et trompettes.

The French saying for: 'With a Bang'.

Comedy of Errors is proving a lot with this record: they can play, they can sing, they carve marvelous melodies and they know how put it on tape. Ahead of the early Marillion they obviously love, they gone forward by injecting more and more of their digital print. Unlike other bands, Comedy is snooping more genres than the neo-progressive: I hear lushious symphonic movements a la Yes and Glass Hammer, neo-classical arpeggios (keyboard and guitar) and even medieval winks here and there.

You really get your head full of goodies with this album: catchy vocal and instrumental hooks, colorful keyboards (personnally my favorite aspect) and lushious art cover. If this is the future of independant recording, well, count me in. With this album, they're showing what they are capable of and won the difficult challenge of the 'dreadful second album'.

Comedy of Errors is one of my biggest hope for the future of the genre and they deserve a giant '#1 foam hand' for their effort!

Send comments to Menswear (BETA) | Report this review (#941514) | Review Permalink
Posted Tuesday, April 09, 2013

Listening to this album makes me think of the Monty Python sketch where the old codgers are all comparing their childhood days and how the kids of today didn't know how well off they were. I first came across Comedy of Errors in the early Nineties, by which time they had already released some cassettes and were making a name for themselves in Scotland. But looking back twenty years it is hard to imagine that no-one, and I mean no-one, in popular media were writing about progressive rock, and the only way to find out what was going on was by going to gigs, buying fanzines, writing letters and talking to others in the scene. Yes, this was the time before the internet existed, and most of us didn't have email either. Back then I was spending quite a bit of time with Mark Colton (then just ex-Casual Affair, followed by Freewill, and now for many years Credo) which not only did wonders for my alcohol intake but ensured that I listened to some bands that otherwise I wouldn't have heard of. I am pretty sure that Graham Younger and the fanzine 'Blindsight' had some impact as well, while Keith Richardson also has plenty to answer for and between the three of them I got to hear one of C of E's albums quite a lot, and in particular the song 'The Student Prince, Part 1'.

Faced with the almost impossibility of getting media coverage outside of fanzines, it is no surprise that C of E faded away given that they were toiling at their craft in Scotland, which has never been widely known for their prog scene (yes, I know Fish is Scottish, and Pallas did make an impact while Abel Ganz also made an impression) and back then it was hard for prog bands to exist outside of the South, and in particular London. The underground scene was very insular and only those 'in the know' were privy to some stunning music and live performances.

But, thankfully the band are back in business with originals singer Joe Cairney, keyboard player (and songwriter) Jim Johnston and guitarist/bassist Mark Spalding being joined by drummer Bruce Levick and new member John Fitzgerald who has joined on bass but was too late to play on this album. Rob Aubrey was given the task of mixing and mastering this album, the second since they started playing again (I haven't heard the first). I was emailing Artur of MLWZ recently and said that I had yet to play this CD and he told me that I was in for a real treat when I did, so it soon made it to the player and I was transported. The only accurate description of this album is neo-prog, with loads of classic Marillion references, but that isn't really a surprise given that they would have had very similar influences themselves. They manage to come across as Gryphon in one number, while Kansas also have their impact, but all in all this is Comedy of Errors and I love it.

Great vocals? Check.

Harmonies? Check.

Musical hooks and interesting songs? Check.

Great musicianship throughout? Check and double check.

When it comes to the end of the year this album is going to be up there with Big Big Train for the number one slot in my mind. It just doesn't get much better than this. www.comedyoferrors.org

Send comments to kev rowland (BETA) | Report this review (#945191) | Review Permalink
Posted Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Comedy of Errors has arrived on my doorstep and even though I have been on a killer buying spree lately, I have really been salivating at the thought of getting my hands on this rather glowingly reviewed prog wonder. Every pundit has praised this up the wazoo and I was anxious to see and hear what all the fuss was about. So let me state for the record, that it will alter your anti-neo-prog convictions (if you should have any) and process them into a cell of solitary confinement with key thrown away. Once again, the notion of 'accessible symphonic' is perhaps a better term, as the Genesis "And They Were Three" sticker simply does not apply anymore. The playing is grandiose, the song structure certainly more stretched out in terms of instrumental composition, the keyboard playing luscious and magnificent (ooh, that mellotron sound!), electric guitar and bass phrasings are sumptuously complex and the drumming totally propellant. But it's the dynamics that truly astound, a constant and inspiring sense of adventure and discovery that has no boundaries or ennui. Throw in some absolutely excellent vocals from Joe Cairney (a perennial weakness in our beloved genre), sterling sound, pristine production and gorgeous packaging (blue is the color of prog!). Lyrical content is dramatic and politicized as it should be (they are Scots after all!), brilliantly conceived and passionately delivered. I mean you have to be mean spirited to knock this down, unless of course you wish to remain a narrow- minded fan boy, slavishly obedient to one party/band rule. I have a hard time not seeing this album as 1- a 2013 highlight and 2- a prog classic. I won't even venture in dissecting this masterpiece track by track, it's just not even necessary. Both Mark Spalding and Jim Johnston shine on their lead instruments, revealing a deep understanding of the timelessness of progressive rock, you can listen to this a thousand times and always find some new twist and mostly feeling that was not there earlier. That is the making of a slice of genius. I mean if the bigger boys (you know, the glorious ones, cough!) would come up with an album this elegant, pleasurable yet sophisticated, it would be hailed as a miracle. As such, I cannot recommend an album more, being converted the first time I heard "Time's Motet and Galliard", a symphonic-medieval piece that would make Gryphon blush with envy. Harpsichord and playfulness, very very British Isles. I could have gone on and one and write a 20 page essay on this jewel but I clearly see that there is no need!

A tremendous triumph and surely among the top contenders for album of the year. WOW! It's got everything a fan needs.

5 Make-believe and pomps

Send comments to tszirmay (BETA) | Report this review (#951540) | Review Permalink
Posted Monday, April 29, 2013

I've been enjoying the prog rock revival across Europe and the US now for the past couple of years and, having been a Deep Purple; Camel; Wishbone Ash; Genesis; Asia; etc fan since the early 70s, the landscape is currently a veritable panoramic feast of inspired output. Most recently, I have ... (read more)

Report this review (#958451) | Posted by AndyCowan | Sunday, May 12, 2013 | Review Permanlink

I was curious to hear what the fuss was about with this new album given the glowing reviews and maybe like some, there was a part of me hoping to take these upstarts down a peg or too ! I have to say though, with this stunning album, Comedy Of Errors have made a fan of me. From the suppressed ang ... (read more)

Report this review (#957463) | Posted by KlausF | Saturday, May 11, 2013 | Review Permanlink

I ordered this album because of the reviews - a blind no-brainer buy. I cannot say that I am disappointed, but I cannot say that I share the praise, either... There are hummable tunes all around, and there are also clever lines in the lyrics and nice neo-classical musical pieces, allright. These ... (read more)

Report this review (#956314) | Posted by hoggle | Thursday, May 09, 2013 | Review Permanlink

This album took me by surprise. I came to prog relatively late in life having a more classically trained background but I have been enjoying immensely the delights of this most varied of genres for several years now. Don't get me wrong, as in every type of music there is the mundane and predictab ... (read more)

Report this review (#955860) | Posted by Simpho | Wednesday, May 08, 2013 | Review Permanlink

I stumbled across this album by pure chance when surfing you tube one night and was instantly compelled to find out more about this album as the first track 'fanfare for the broken hearted' has a really catchy tune which reminds me strongly of Fish era Marillion. After a bit of wiki investigating it ... (read more)

Report this review (#955733) | Posted by dinghydan | Wednesday, May 08, 2013 | Review Permanlink

When I saw the ratings for this album, I could only shake my head. How can feelings about music differ so much? But maybe that's the real magic there is, and maybe this is why we are all so captivated by this spark of culture... Anyway, I can't say that I have enjoyed this album, and I really t ... (read more)

Report this review (#954659) | Posted by notaverage | Monday, May 06, 2013 | Review Permanlink

I cannot wholly agree to a lot that has been said above. Much of what we hear is blatantly normal prog stuff without too much of, let's call it, a traceable character of the band's self. Don't get me wrong, this is not bad at all - but it is also far from excellent, as it does indeed *not* excel ... (read more)

Report this review (#954658) | Posted by klaus | Monday, May 06, 2013 | Review Permanlink

Having previously bought Disobey which was a fantastic debut album from the Scottish outfit Comedy Of Errors, I was intrigued as to what they might come up with to maybe match it. I should not have lost faith. Fanfare And fantasy is even better than Disobey in so many ways. firstly all the tracks ar ... (read more)

Report this review (#952142) | Posted by pinkfloyd75 | Wednesday, May 01, 2013 | Review Permanlink

Quite simply, the best prog album I have heard this year. Comedy of Errors have followed up Disobey with an album which, if it were possible, has even more great uplifting tunes, a greater depth of emotion and fantastic playing production values and truly a modern day prog classic. These guys ... (read more)

Report this review (#951496) | Posted by daisy444 | Monday, April 29, 2013 | Review Permanlink

This is one of the best albums that I have heard in recent years. The musicianship to start with is exceptional. Yes, I can hear influences here and there. I suppose that is how it works... it's all about how you use those influences and what that allows you to create in terms of your own offer ... (read more)

Report this review (#943604) | Posted by allank | Sunday, April 14, 2013 | Review Permanlink

Well. I never review anything really. Never get the time but! This is an amazing album. There is a huge amount of "prog" music coming at us these days and I seem to like most of it. Comedy of errors stands out tho. Comparisons? My first thought was Gryphon. Very English (can I say that about a S ... (read more)

Report this review (#943328) | Posted by odinalcatraz | Saturday, April 13, 2013 | Review Permanlink

I buy and sell rare vinyl records, so what you might ask am I reviewing a CD for, well, Comedy Of Errors just released a limited 250 run of their new album 'Fanfare And Fantasy' on vinyl as a Double album with an extra track..'Time There Was'..which is kind of the other way round from the old days ... (read more)

Report this review (#937776) | Posted by PerilousPandaRecords | Sunday, March 31, 2013 | Review Permanlink

This new release from Comedy Of Errors is another terrific, high-quality dose of their melodic and engaging music and a worthy followup to 2011's excellent "Disobey". Seemingly always walking the line between 'neo' and 'symphonic', this is one occasion where the listener can discard the notion of ... (read more)

Report this review (#936896) | Posted by Progatron | Friday, March 29, 2013 | Review Permanlink

COMEDY OF ERRORS made quite an impact with their bold 2011 album 'Disobey'. And I had reason to wonder how this Scottish quintet would cope with the follow-up. But great moments in life are worth waiting for... What's to be found on Fanfare And Fantasy' are nine compositions which take the magnifice ... (read more)

Report this review (#936484) | Posted by PH | Thursday, March 28, 2013 | Review Permanlink

I have known Comedy or Errors for some 30 years through the early years with Joe Cairney, the mid years with a direction change and the latter years with Joe back signing. The 2 albums Disobey and Fanfare & Fantasy are progressive, symphonic, but yet unique to COE. Disobey was a triumphant re ... (read more)

Report this review (#936480) | Posted by smithy123 | Thursday, March 28, 2013 | Review Permanlink

OK, so now I need to buy an autochanger for the car.... When I bought "Disobey" it's been one of the few CDs which has rarely been out of the car and one of the even fewer which I let run time after time! And then along came "Fanfare & Fantasy"!!! On first listening, this is not Disobey mark ... (read more)

Report this review (#933865) | Posted by Nmackie | Friday, March 22, 2013 | Review Permanlink

Having been suitably impressed with the previous Comedy of Errors album 'Disobey' I pre- ordered 'Fanfare & Fantasy' shortly before its release. I received it a few days ago and have been listening to it fairly consistently over the last few days, both at home while working and in the car. Upo ... (read more)

Report this review (#933603) | Posted by Richens | Thursday, March 21, 2013 | Review Permanlink

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