Progarchives, the progressive rock ultimate discography
Pendragon - Pure CD (album) cover

PURE

Pendragon

 

Neo-Prog

3.90 | 716 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

Tarcisio Moura
Prog Reviewer
4 stars After the disappointing Believe I did not know what to expect next from Pendragon. Would they go back to their old ways and repeat themselves or would they try to find new direction and risk letting their audience down? Well, fortunately Pendragon did release something that brings new elements to their sound and still remains the band we all know and love. The key figures to this success are passion, good work and inspiration.

Ok, this is not an easy listening album, specially if you - like me - is a fan of the band and lived through their marvellous time during the 90's, when each effort they put out only seemed to surpass the other. It takes some time to sink in. At the beginning I really thought that those heavy guitars were something unnecessary, but now I think they do fit alright. This is no The Masquerade Overture of course, but if you compare Pure to Believe you'll see they are back to form in a glorious way. This album is full of great, fluid, melodic trademark guitar solos by Barrett, lush and elaborated keyboards by Clive Nolan and the rhythm section is working like they were together for ages, not their first CD with the new drummer Scott Higham. This is sure a team effort and it shines like that (Believe always sounded to me as a Barrett solo album, in a bad way).

I'm really happy to see that those guys have found their muse again. The whole CD is charged with energy and conviction. Ok, it is not perfect, those new elements don't always work, but most of the time they do. And you ought to admire a band that is trying so hard not to repeat a formulae (it would be too easy for them to write a Not Of This World part II). The songwriting, arrangements and playing are brilliant and Barrett is singing better than ever. Clive Nolan too is showing some of his best works on the keys this time, while in Believe he was missing in action.

The production is perfect and there are no fillers. I guess the great track Freakshow could be a little longer while It's Only Me could be a little shorter, but those are minor faults in a powerful and refreshing CD. You don't see 25+ year old bands being so creative and in such a good musical shape everyday. My rating: 4,5 stars. Fans of Pendragon, rejoice!

Tarcisio Moura | 4/5 |

MEMBERS LOGIN ZONE

As a registered member (register here if not), you can post rating/reviews (& edit later), comments reviews and submit new albums.

You are not logged, please complete authentication before continuing (use forum credentials).

Forum user
Forum password

Share this PENDRAGON review

Social review comments () BETA







Review related links

Copyright Prog Archives, All rights reserved. | Legal Notice | Privacy Policy | Advertise | RSS + syndications

Other sites in the MAC network: JazzMusicArchives.com — jazz music reviews and archives | MetalMusicArchives.com — metal music reviews and archives

Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.