PROGRESS HAS NO PATIENCE

The band name somehow reminds me of another outfit. Probably not a coincidence. Well, Dave Matthews produced an eponymous title for the album 'Before These Crowded Streets' in 1998, which is one of my favourite band songs. And in fact, at least concerning the qualitative approach, this stuff here is not so far away in my opinion - to offer a forecast in some way. In other words, 'Progress Has No Patience' consists of sophisticated rock songs which can be listed under the progressive rock label ... you only have to widen the scope a bit.

The album title is striking, oh yeah, we have to take this literally most likely ... why not? It's not the band's debut, however I don't know the predecessor albums for a comparison. In any case here we have a quintet showing a standard instrumentation where the singer can concentrate on his job exclusively. Chris Buckler's voice surely is an attraction. Charming, multi-variant, as far as this is necessary also very expressive, always present but never too dominant, excellently embedded. This points to the fact that the album is really worked out with care, feeling, atmosphere in its entirety ... and this credit may also belong to producer Karl Groom (Threshold).

As for the track list it all begins with a little gimmick, the opener simply appears four seconds long, consisting of ... nothing! Not a mistake I assume according to the sleeve printing. And then the band provides the first two tunes Silence Won't Steal and Arcadia with a strong AOR and neo prog appeal. I particularly want to point out Neil Ablard's excellent drum work which occurs to me above all. Furthermore you will get some jazz pop flavoured appeal with Grown Too Small where the two longest offerings Moult and Ophidia are more tricky - close to Big Big Train, Genesis, Spock's Beard inbetween, provided with Gilmour reminiscent soloing guitars, shifting time signatures and longer instrumental passages.

The more I listen the more I'm sure this an album which I will come back to here and there .. and if it is for the next party when there is a need for some danceable songs in order to fill the dance floor. Just take Love And The Heart for example which evolves to an earworm after some rounds due to a stunning remarkable chorus. Slender Versions Of The Truth appears as the most varied track put here - you can say that the album's two faces are mixed up to something eclectic in the end. The last two songs are atmospheric ballads which relax the mind, some may say now 'Progress Has No Patience' loses potential a bit. I don't agree.

All in all this songs are capable to reach a wider range of rock music fans than those coming from the prog rock niche alone. With other words, the material is partially mainstream bordering and certainly has the makings of a commercial success. I find it a prolific production with skillful instruments all over. You really have to search for something comparable which bears such a bunch of nice rock music arrangements and catchy melodies. Highly recommended to all fans which like to listen to elaborated melodic rock songs.