ABANDONED DANCEHALL DREAMS

Tim Bowness is one of the few truly stellar progressive rock voices, both unique in timbre and emotionally effusive, with a vast catalog of successful endeavors with his pal Steve Wilson (No-Man is a stalwart entry in the prog pantheon), as well as his ongoing work with Henry Fool and a flurry of solo adventures of which "Abandoned Dancehall Dreams" is the very latest to reach our ears. Adorned by a classic 'retro' progressive rock album cover that ensures the proggy nature of his craft and populated by the 'crème de la crème' prog musicians (names such as veterans Colin Edwin, Pat Mastelotto, Richard Barbieri and Wilson, as well as the newer Henry Fool crew of keyboardist Stephen Bennett, drummer Andrew Booker and guitarman Michael Bearpark) who all simply 'get it' when it comes to the divine spirit that Tim Bowness seems to completely master. The results are quite impeccable, as this is not ambient shoe gaze gauze but a melancholic poetic essay drenched in powerful emotions that defy the possibility of yawning at the drop of a hat. Each composition possesses its own inherent heartbeat, searching out bewildering horizons where escape and contemplation rule the day. Nothing excessively long or ridiculously short, the entire menu just flows delectably. There is enough here to attract both the demanding rock fan as well as perhaps finding favour with that eternally "unflinchingly hostile to prog" female market.

Highly atmospheric, sensually inspired, sturdily grounded with rhythmic foundation and loaded to the gills with ethereal sound sculptures, Bowness' hushed voice flickers like some fiery butterfly ballerina, eternally riveting and intense. There are some glittering prizes among the crown jewels solemnly encased for the prog tourist to view, namely the "Smiler at 50" and its electro companion "Smiler at 52", both ecstatic gems that will rock your world. My personal favorite is the mind-blowing "I Fought Against the South", a nearly 9 minute extravaganza that goes through a contrast turnstile halfway that just left me helplessly glowing, crushed by the orgasmic string arrangement led by Andrew Keeling. These violins actually emote on a heavenly mantle of mellotron cushions, grandiose flute fluttering and eclectic percussive concussions.

This exquisite package includes a second fully loaded CD that offers mix/outtake variations on the preceding themes, reworked demos that conjure up a wider palette of sounds, different musicians and extending the overall pleasure with any hint of redundancy. In some instances, the arrangements become more electronic in nature, with vocoded voice effects and Kraftwerkian beat box moods running rampant. The all choral "Singing for You" is achingly rapturous!

Another 2014 masterpiece!

5 reckless disco reveries