ON MY HANDS

MADRIGAL began all the way back in 1977 as a prog cover band just as punk rock was wiping prog off the map but led by the fiery determine of mainman Kevin Dodson, this Spokane, Washington band relentless toured for a few years before calling it quits. During those years up to 1980, Dodson wrote a lot of original material but never managed to release it as an album at least until 1989 after the band reformed and saw the debut 'Waiting' come out in 1989. By this time the band had a completely different lineup with only Dodson remaining as an original member but the more mature version of MADRIGAL had finally come into fruition and was actually in the forefront of a new kind of symphonic prog that took a lot of what Kansas and Yes were offering in the 70s and steering more into the direction of what bands like Spock's Beard, Echolyn and Flower Kings would sound like.

The band continued after 'Waiting' and after finding a home on MUSEA records even found some success in Europe as the prog revival of the 90s was underway but the band broke up once again for good in 1995 but once again an album was released after the fact this time in the form of the sophomore release ON MY HANDS which continued the symphonic prog style of the debut and made an even stronger album. The best apart about ON MY HANDS is Kevin Dodson had significantly improved and while the album is not as quirky as the debut, it makes up for that with stronger tight-knit compositions that are right out of the neo-prog playbook. With heavy emphasis on strong melodic grooves provided by the bass, the atmospheric keyboards provide sophisticated counterpoints. ON MY HANDS also has a jazzier presence with Chuck Swanson providing saxophone and other horn sounds in addition to flutes.

ON MY HANDS has honed it commercial sound much better than its predecessor. While 'Waiting' relied on quirky off-kilter rhythmic drives along with unpredictable time signature deviations, this one is clearly more focused on expanding the potentials of the melodies. While the symphonic prog of characteristic of Kansas and Yes are clearly in play, this album actually sounds more like an early version of Spock's Beard if you ask me. Gone are the lengthy prog workouts and the tracks are shorter and to the point with only the title track extending over 7 minutes. Tracks like 'Castings' sound much more out of the Genesis playbook with thick atmospheres, slow plodding rhythms and a pastoral acoustic presence before breaking into a heavier rock bravado.

Perhaps not as unique as the debut but nevertheless MADRIGAL delivered a beautiful crossover prog album that sits somewhere between the mellowest sounds of neo-prog and the symphonic prog revival of the 90s from the aforementioned bands. The production is better as well. ON MY HANDS appears together with the debut 'Waiting' on the MUSEA compilation "1988-1996 A Compilation Waiting... On My Hands" which also offers three bonus tracks. Basically the debut will offer more quirky prog outbursts for those who crave those while this second album is more focused on strong melodic performances with less prog workouts. The vocals are much better on this one however it does lose a bit of the unique charm that made MADRIGAL standout from the pack on 'Waiting.' Still though, this is a woefully disregarded band that deserves more recognition.