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ABOVE CIRRUS

Pure Reason Revolution

Crossover Prog


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Pure Reason Revolution Above Cirrus album cover
3.74 | 95 ratings | 6 reviews | 18% 5 stars

Excellent addition to any
prog rock music collection

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Studio Album, released in 2022

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Our Prism (3:34)
2. New Kind of Evil (8:32)
3. Phantoms (3:51)
4. Cruel Deliverance (5:56)
5. Scream Sideways (10:10)
6. Dead Butterfly (7:09)
7. Lucid (6:49)

Total Time 46:01

Line-up / Musicians

- Jon Courtney / vocals, guitars, keyboards
- Chloë Alper / vocals, bass, keyboards
- Greg Jong / vocals, guitars

With:
- Geoff Dugmore / drums

Releases information

Cover: Jill Tegan Doherty
Label: InsideOut Music
Format: Vinyl, CD, Digital
May 6, 2022

Thanks to mbzr48 for the addition
and to projeKct for the last updates
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Buy PURE REASON REVOLUTION Above Cirrus Music



PURE REASON REVOLUTION Above Cirrus ratings distribution


3.74
(95 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(18%)
18%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(47%)
47%
Good, but non-essential (26%)
26%
Collectors/fans only (9%)
9%
Poor. Only for completionists (0%)
0%

PURE REASON REVOLUTION Above Cirrus reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by BrufordFreak
COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
4 stars So glad to see these creative musicians keeping at it after their previous ten-year break before 2020's Eupnea reunion.

1. "Our Prism" (3:34) awesome heavy prog soundscape with great, powerful singing and textures. Great opener. A top three song for me. (9/10)

2. "New Kind of Evil" (8:32) feels like something found on the cutting room floor from after the Dark Third sessions. Odd pieces spliced together with incomplete-feeling development throughout. (17/20)

3. "Phantoms" (3:51) interesting electronic opening giving this a 1980s sound but once the multiple voice tracks join in and chorus is presented it starts to click. Love drums effects and aural twists and textures in the second and third minutes. Gives me a kind of 21st Century Nirvana meets Bowie feel. Another top three song. (9/10)

4. "Cruel Deliverance" (5:56) a song that seems to start without a beginning, to appear/form as if out of nothing, and then to develop chaotically, as if without a plan or without intention. Truly an interesting feel! And yet it comes together behind the repetitive choral delivery of the title phrase. Good stuff. Interesting eerie stuff in the end recitation. (8.75/10)

5. "Scream Sideways" (10:10) great four-minute intro reminiscent of the Dark Third atmospheres-into-heavy prog soundscapes. Not quite as compelling once the first vocal section takes over, but then, at 5:50 a full-on left turn into PINK FLOYD territory takes over before the heavy guitars, raspy vocals, and rich multi-layered harmony vocals join in. To add to the oddness of this composition, the vocal chorus fades at the end of the seventh minute, replaced by a hollow drum machine, which then fades, and then bluesy-heavenly piano play with ethereal multi-voiced (gong- like) vocals over the top before a very heavy MOTORPSYCHO-like instrumental passage takes over at the 9:00 mark. I've got to admit: this is not a song structure I would have predicted from PRR or any band. Risky, brave, and odd. Does it work? I'll tell you after another five or ten listens. (17.25/20)

6. "Dead Butterfly (7:09) for the first 1:10 we are treated to piano with gorgeous mutli-track, multi-voiced harmonized vocals. Then heavy guitar chords crash in to help usher in the drums, keys, bass, and guitars for the main body of the song (and the future choruses). The verses are then sung over electro-pop synth fabric with drums and Jon's very heavily treated lead vocal. The electronica sounds and textures used here are quite unusual: I'm not sure if they're retro or totally fresh/new. Some cool codas and diversions within. I find it hard to get past the near-Led Zeppelin/Collective Soul guitar chord phrasing is a bit hard to get past though--even though you eventually get used to it. (13.25/15)

7. "Lucid" (6:49) piano and Jon's solo voce open this one before cool power up segues into great song construct-- great balance between power and delicacy, emotion and atmosphere. Plus, incredible b vox by Chloë. Definitely a top three song for me. (13.5/15)

Total Time 46:01

More than Eupnea, the band is definitely back on track--back to realizing the potential displayed by their 2003 debut, The Dark Third. I only wish we could hear more of the lovely voice of Chloë Alper in the lead, but, still, the rich harmony vocal arrangements here are way better than Eupnea and almost as good as those from the early 2000s. And the sound engineering and production here is a big step up from Eupnea. Not sure what to make of all the vocal clips at each song's ending--what is the band trying to say/convey here?

B/four stars; not enough to make this a universal recommendations for all, but it is an excellent prog record that many people will love.

Latest members reviews

4 stars Pure Reason Revolution -like many modern prog bands- are aware that it is very difficult to innovate formally (melodies, rhythmic structures, harmonies, etc.), therefore they decide to put a special emphasis on sound, textures and nuances. that they managed to create by superimposing the differe ... (read more)

Report this review (#2770186) | Posted by JohnProg | Saturday, June 11, 2022 | Review Permanlink

2 stars My first intention was to meticulously discuss every song of this album and then give my overall view on it. But I decided against it because I would repeat myself constantly. And I didn't want to invest so many words and time on this one, to be frank. This album is well crafted by great musician ... (read more)

Report this review (#2757949) | Posted by WJA-K | Thursday, June 2, 2022 | Review Permanlink

5 stars PURE REASON REVOLUTION is the British rock band formed in 2003 distilling catchy and complex modern rock, space and post rock, crazy vocals, heavy guitar riffs, unhealthy progressive rock on grunge rock, on the border between PINK FLOYD , PORCUPINE TREE, LED ZEPPELIN and SMASHING PUMPKINS see NI ... (read more)

Report this review (#2757753) | Posted by alainPP | Tuesday, May 31, 2022 | Review Permanlink

2 stars The time has come for me to review this album. I'm not particularly happy about this, but here it is: I'm a huge fan of Pure Reason Revolution and I've seen them live a couple of times. I like supporting the bands that I enjoy listening to and it made me sad to hear of their break-up after their ... (read more)

Report this review (#2756706) | Posted by Tasartir | Friday, May 27, 2022 | Review Permanlink

5 stars PRR is back with another fantastic album! Above Cirrus is a natural continuation of their last effort Eupnea, expanding the horizons with a heavier sound, electronic elements and fresh new ideas. Our Prism is a fantastic opener that quickly sets the mood of the following songs, with tribal drum p ... (read more)

Report this review (#2754541) | Posted by Deadwing | Monday, May 16, 2022 | Review Permanlink

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