PURE

Nick Barrett loves what he does. It's as simple as that. 30 years we've had Pendragon, and they've created some of the most memorable music in progressive rock. Up until recently the band has gone with a pretty tried and true formula of melodic progressive rock played through brilliant musicianship. With Believe in 2005, however, Pendragon sort of beefed up their sound with chunky guitars and gruff vocals. 2008 brings us Pure: an album of real music about real things. We also have real heavy music, with Nick drawing a lot of influences from this 'new metal' popularized by bands such as Riverside out of Poland, but still maintaining their melodic tendencies. The band have entered into a new phase of their music, it seems.

Pure, in essence, revolves around the purity within us when we're little, and how dealing with insecurities and outside influences gradually causes us to lose that as we get older. In the album's opening track, 'Indigo', Nick describes it in the accompanying DVD (available through the special deluxe edition) as the belief that when we're born, we're surrounded by an aura of indigo color. The new, more darker sound takes hold of your right away, with the very sinister intro to "Indigo". As the band kicks it into gear, however, you get that trademark Pendragon atmosphere. Making a statement is new drummer, Scott Higham, as he pulls off the double bass (ala Mike Portnoy) and the band is off and rocketing skyward. The first half of the song is peppered with the amazing guitar work of Nick Barrett, with nice nuances added for another layer of texture.

As volatile as the first 8+ minutes were of 'Indigo', the band pulls back for the remaining 6, and Nick shows why he's one of prog's best guitarists with a stunning guitar solo very reminiscent of David Gilmour, while Clive Nolan just shrouds the sound with lovely synths. In my opinion, it's one of Pendragon's best album openers and lays the groundwork for the album successfully and with vigor.

For 'Eraserhead', Nick intentionally offset the sound by coming at us with punk mentality, but with that trademark melody. What sticks out is the wonderful keyboard mastery by Clive towards the end, while trading punches with Barrett's solo guitar. As he has for decades, Peter Gee keeps the rhythm with young gun Higham with razor sharp precision. Very fun to listen to this band, who when hitting on all cylinders, are the finest around.

Pure's epic 'Comatose' is broken up into 3 sections: View From The Seashore, Space Cadet and Home And Dry. It's a song that goes full circle from innocence, cynical and manic, to returning a bit wiser. The opening section has some absolutely brilliance about 4 minutes in as Scott pulls off an incredible drum and cymbal fill while the old atmospheric sound once again greets us with some fantastic guitar work. It stops suddenly with a Beatle-like psychedelic synth until the band launch into Pendragon heaven with 'Space Cadet'. And whether it was by accident or deliberate, I love the digitized effect when Nick sings 'streak of black'. Very subtle, but so cool.

The middle section especially becomes troublesome as art imitates life...unfortunately. The character beaten down by the darker side of life decides to take a gun to school, and the way Nick carries this is chilling. Comatose (both lyrically and musically) embodies many moods and never lets up. Even when you think the pace has settled, the band gives you a round house kick to the senses and it's time to strap yourself in.

'Freakshow' is about one's intense insecurities as you enter adolescence. How it feels like everyone is watching you, as indicated in the lyrics: I don't want people to see the freakshow going on inside of me. The song opens with an all out assault on your senses with the heavy sound of the intro (played by 5 guitars), but still very melodic.

The last song, 'It's Only Me' starts off with just piano, guitar and harmonica played by Rod Crisp. A song about how resilient we are as children. How when during the tough times we're able to smile, but lose that ability as we get older. As unassuming as the song begins, it ends with an absolute glorious guitar solo, constructed in that patented heartfelt way that Nick Barrett handles so effortlessly. Admittedly, this song has yet to grow on me, but the solo is one of his finest.

As mentioned before, if you order from the band directly you can get the deluxe edition with a documentary of the making of the album. You not only are allowed access to the recording process, but see for yourself the wit of Nick Barrett. Some parts will either make you giggle or outright belly laugh. One note of interest is when he's driving and they stop at the gate of John Lennon's old estate where they shot the video for 'Imagine'. Overall, a nice edition that gives us a better understanding of what goes in to making Pure.

The anticipation I had for Pure was intense. I got the feeling that Pendragon (and Nick, especially) invested a lot to this project. The investment has paid off. What we have in Pure is music with an intense spirit and that makes us think while gripping onto our interest. It encompasses a lot of different moods and textures, but in the end it's undoubtedly Pendragon. I consider this album a masterpiece and give it 5 stars without reservation.