JUST LIKE MASTER BATES

Another British band caught between its love of proggy art rock and the punk/techno trends of contemporary pop music. Somewhere along the way this band was errantly assigned to the Canterbury Scene by many reviewers while I hear absolutely no commonality to those psych-jazz experimentalists of the first half of the decade.

SIDE 1 1. "Gravity Brings You Down" (4:32) innocuous 60s PINK FLOYD-influenced techno pop proto prog. More like ABC than Genesis. (8.25/10)

2. "Long Gone Song" More ABC. Or 10CC. Not proggy at all though nice jazzy Fender Rhodes keyboard play. The violin section at the end is quite nice. (8/10)

3. "Storyteller" opens with some emotionally potent soft jazz sounds over which David Radford sings. A winning chordal and melodic structure. Slightly proggy after the first chorus in a CAMEL/STRAWBS way. (8.75/10)

4. "Those Lying Eyes" acoustic guitars (12-string!) set up this EAGLES-like sound until the tempo shifts and we are in poppy GLEN CAMPBELL or NENA terrain. Some quirky instrumental and structural sounds used but, otherwise, not really proggy. Could've been a hit from one of the 1960s West Coast psych bands. (8.5/10)

SIDE 2 5. "Kismet / Hour Glass / Not That Far To Go" presents a more dramatic side of the band, at least for the opening and first verse, more in the realm of FAMILY and early GENESIS, before the odd SAGA-like chorus. The C section in the third minute could be from Peter Gabriel's debut solo album ("Moribund the Burgermeister") or The Lamb. The more artsy, creative side of the band as expressed in a multi-song suite. (13.125/15)

6. "Come The Day" violin backed by strummed acoustic 12-string guitar opens before vocals supplant violin and keys eventually join in. Nice violin and keyboard work in the instrumental sections between the vocals. Nice vocals and lyrics. Solid song. (9/10)

9. "Dance Of The Emmets" a discofied instrumental that could come from an ALAN PARSONS, STYX, or CAMEL album. (8.5/10)

10. "One And One Is Two" reminds me of the mid-1970s band PILOT (members of which later became studio musicians for Kate Bush [David Paton, Andrew Powell, Ian Bairnson], Alan Parsons [Ian Bairnson, Stuart Tosh, David Paton], and 10cc [Stuart Tosh].) (7.75/10)

I chose not to review or rate the two bonus songs included in the 2007 CD reissue as they don't really fit, to my mind, with the original music.

Total time (with two bonus songs): 48:20

B/four stars; an excellent addition of proto-NeoProg to the lexicon of Progressive Rock music.

This album absorbed a whole 70's decade: it combines gentle naive harmonies from pop songs of the late 60's/early 70's, that are present also in early prog rock, and electronic spacey tunes from the mid/late 70's with powerful modern pop beats. Wherein the sound of the band cannot be attributed to some well-known group, all this extraordinary mixture permeated by violin, which brings tension or dramatic effect, and it makes him truly unique.

Opening track shows in front of us the late 70's band. Here we can hear sound effects from those years, quite danceable rhythm which wafts thoughts of disco. But with time comes understanding that this is not as simple music as it seems at first glance. Tempo/melody changes, rhythm section can disappear and a pause may occur. The vocals in places reminds Sparks, but more pleasant and sincere. The already mentioned violin also appears on this composition - gorgeous and really catchy sound.

"Long Gone Song" - in the same spirit. Energetic rhythm and interesting melody. Also the composition structure is not plain. Beauty and delicate ending take the listener to the prog sound - nice intertwined.

"Storyteller" has a very catchy main theme, played on some electronic keyboards. However, it looks more like a mid 70's prog, without references to modern disco sound.

"Those Lying Eyes" is naive and kind, quite simple, but this is what bribes - sincere and warm straight from the early 70s. Really radio hit.

And after him you want something more complicated, hearing only great pop songs is boring. And how perfectly the 9-minute prog track "Kismet/Hour Glass/Not That Far To Go" fits in here. First half is on a space theme with modern effects of that time. Quite interesting, serious, plot-structure composition goes into a cheerful ending which reminds early Yes (about 7:30).

After that a very suitable composition - "Come The Day" starts. Calm, quiet, no drums - acoustic guitar with violin and a bit of electronic effects. When moving towards the end the sound expressively getting louder, the rhythm section is joining. Little masterpiece!

Next "Dance Of The Emmets" is an instrumental story in late 70-s style, similar to French band Space, but with acoustic drums. Tense sound make this track really interesting to listen to, imagination can played out. And in the end of the album we have a simple ballad, quite pleasant too.

I have listened to this album not once and every time there is something that may surprise me again. It is a very interesting mixture of different genres. The listener's interest is well worked out by the order (and of course the content) of the compositions. Invigorating pop rhythms are combined with beautiful samples of 70s prog music and all this with not so many times repetitive and very memorable choruses and melodies. Music for a sophisticated listener who, with careful listening, will be very pleased and will not get bored. For those who love the classic symphonic prog of the 70s, pop songs from the Beatles times and do not resist to the pop/disco at the turn of the 70-80s.

4,5/5 stars!