RANDOM OPTION

Is RANDOM OPTION a progressive rock band, yes or no? Yes, if you consider that it includes members of the GENESIS cover band, MAMA, the "scousers" from THE SWAN CHORUS, as well as another LIVERPOOL band, A BETTER MOUSETRAP, reformed under the name THE MOUSETRAP FACTORY in 2020 (I warmly encourage you to go and give it a listen; it's halfway between classy 80s British pop and Europeanized "world music" championed by a certain Peter......). Are you following?

David K. Jones is a member of MAMA, THE MOUSETRAP FACTORY, as well as PLENTY and MOONSHOT, two bands that have the distinction of including a man named Tim BOWNESS in their ranks. Brian HULSE is also a member of PLENTY and THE MOUSETRAP FACTORY! Let's call it the BOWNESS nebula.

James COOPER, drummer and percussionist, plays in MAMA and also in MOONSHOT. John Wilkinson, the lead singer of RANDOM OPTION, is also a member of MAMA and has participated in recent years in the work of ELLESMERE, THE SWAN CHORUS, and THE SAMURAI OF PROG, to name the most well-known combos or projects in the progressive microcosm. Keyboardist Antony WRETHAM is a painter, photographer, and musician. He is the one who created the illustrations for the booklet of "One," the RANDOM OPTION album, a work that brings together eight pieces, four short and four longer than seven and a half minutes.

The introductory track "Tomorrow" appears in a classic progressive vein, pleasant without being extraordinary. John Wilkinson's vocals are decent, but he would be better elsewhere, in my opinion, with a short (8/10) opening track. Said vocals are superior in "As Blue As the Sky," but unfortunately, the track is too short (7/10).

The epic following "Redemption" and its almost fourteen minutes, with its flowing piano, vaporous synthesizers, fluffy and dreamy backing vocals (Sian Doyle), and John Wilkinson singing elegantly?what more could you ask for? Very present guitars, precise drumming from James Cooper with an almost military passage, Antony Wretham's tangy and inventive organ, a touch of THIS WINTER MACHINE coupled with a pinch of CHARTERHOUSE for the overall construction of the piece (9/10), it's a shame that it's the only truly long track in the work. "Autumn Song" is quite far from progressive rock standards, a listenable "song" without excess (7/10), which could have been written by the "Collinssian" genesis.

The eponymous and sumptuous "One" is beautiful, great old-school prog with rhythmic breaks, false leads, sharp and lyrical six-strings, devilishly Genesis-esque, my favorite piece on the album (9/10), a track that would have deserved to be more extended, the basic progster is never satisfied! Following this, the quasi-instrumental "Along Similar Lines" (8/10) proves to be very pleasant and catchy (I found myself humming it, that's saying something). Like "Autumn Song," "Sail Towards the Sun" is merely a listenable track, nothing more, a weak point, according to your servant (6/10).

The closing track "World is Changing" (9/10) is another highlight of the album, once again reminiscent of some of Al Winter's band's tracks. Antony WRETHAM's five-minute Moog solo is brilliant but too short, and Brian HULSE's six-string solo a little later is just as brilliant (brilliant). Once again, a more extensive development would have been warranted, in my opinion.

A very good album for the first half of 2025, which will probably be in my annual top 15. Take the time to listen to it because it's not as straightforward as it seems at first glance.