WRECKERS

Back with a third album after a six year wait from the second, progressive folk rockers The Morrigan are back with 'Wreckers', fueling their Celtic roots with the energy and complexity of prog. An album that feels like a step back towards the folky side than the rock they experimented with on 'Rides Out', this is the first time that The Morrigan have really left an impression on me. The band had been in intermittent activity for over a decade at this point, and the band experience is reflected here fully, although there is still the feeling that things could have been improved upon further.

As has been mentioned in another review, this feels more like the spiritual sequel to The Morrigan's debut 'Spirit Of The Soup', rather than the third album. While regressing back a step usually isn't a good sign for most bands, in this case it does really have a positive benefit. In 'Rides Out', I generally felt that the rock wasn't nearly powerful enough to warrant cutting out the Celtic beauty that defines their sound. Instead here, there is the energy that was lacking on the debut, but conveyed through the Celtic instrumentation of the recorder and a myriad of other folky instruments.

Although the Celtic melodies and parts are highly derivative of traditional songs, that is part of what makes 'Wreckers' an enjoyable experience. Seen her is the inately 'foward-thinking' sound of prog rock (as can be heard through the use of keyboards) and an ancient sound that still holds as much appeal today as it did back in feudal times. Leading this foray into the Celtic culture is vocalist Cathy Alexander, who has not changed up her act much since the debut, but remains a strong singer that really works for the sound of The Morrigan. Also here is 'Cold Blows The Wind', a new rendition of an older track they previously did, although it is a pleasure to hear this track redone in a more professional setting.

While the album may have the cohesion of 'Rides Out' an d the musical beauty of 'Spirit Of The Soup', it still feels as if something is missing from the album that keeps it from being truly remarkable. Perhaps it is the generally straightforward approach to the songwriting employed here, or the rather cheap sounding keyboard sounds, but these do not prevent 'Wreckers' from being an enjoyable musical experience through and through.

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