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Primitive Instinct - One Man's refuge CD (album) cover

ONE MAN'S REFUGE

Primitive Instinct

 

Neo-Prog

3.83 | 29 ratings

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tszirmay
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
4 stars This is my first foray into Primitive Instinct, as I kept skirting the previous releases and keeping them at arm's length until the moment would arise for me to take a closer look. Progstreaming did just that by showcasing this new release and I got hooked! The beauty of a progressive mind is that one can enjoy the dense, complicated stuff with the same fortitude as the more accessible material. Primitive Instinct lies firmly in the second category, a poppier universe of clever songwriting, memorable melodies, passionate vocals and clever though not necessarily intricate musicianship. Leader Nick Sheridan is the owner of a lovely voice, typically 80's croon, closer to John Lees (BJH), Geoff Barradale (Vitamin Z), Andy McCluskey (OMD) or Howard Jones. Modern comparisons suggest a Colin Mold or even Coldplay. The material is stretched a bit further than the usual poppy fare, giving the musicians some leeway in building momentous passages, albeit firmly in the lighter areas of musical expression. Hey, a little pop can go easily with the snap and the crackle! The classic "Alter Ego", the forthright "Falling Down", the pastoral "End of the Day" and the rumbling "No Way" all fit perfectly into that category but subtle tracks like the sublime "Breathing", the gasping "Solitary Man" with its glorious vocal full of forlorn melancholia, the tremendous title track has a clear Peter Gabriel hint ("In Your Eyes") that only adds to the enjoyment, armed with redolent e-piano and a shining vocal performance, very smooth and chill. There are also some original takes like the rollicking "Cuban Lullaby" with a very 80s feel, raspy guitar leading the way and a huge vocal once again. With "Still Finding My Way", the ballad fans are sumptuously catered to a huge love song that has hints of 'déjà entendu' somewhere before, so universal is its simple pleading charm. The chorus is utterly familiar and sexy, hum along and exalt in the glory.The album ends with the longest tune, the 8 minute+ "Regrets", where the tone gets somewhat darker, bass rolling nicely, tick-tack drums and a solid groove to boot, Sheridan expressing himself regally on the mike, a stunning finale that deserves rapt applause.

While vocals are not exactly prog's forte, it's nevertheless nice to have an accessible album, full of superb voice renditions of quirky songs that would undoubtedly please the females in our life. One cannot feed on Anekdoten, Anglagard, Magma and OSI without an occasional release! This will do it fine. A fun little disc.

4 Hidden Lairs Thanks Kev!

tszirmay | 4/5 |

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