ANGELS OF PECKHAM RYE

Once again, internet prog stations came handy and I became aware of the band through Starstruck. It stood head and shoulders above the rest I had heard that day and immediately I streamed the entire album and then off to Bandcamp to get it and I enjoy ever since. The opening Arithmomania is permeated by a mystical vibe which is totally captivating. The violin adds some very lyrical touches and the guitar solo takes it from there. A truly brilliant way to lead off the album and thankfully there is more to come. Odd Particle is the instrumental cut of the album with very nice keyboards sounds, the drumming has a lot of feeling and the violin once again does the trick to give the listener some goose pimples. If you have a playlist with instrumental prog songs, you should seriously consider its addition. On Big Game Fishing the acoustic guitar with the, once again, lush keyboard sounds set the stage for Simon Carbery's soulful performance. Starstruck is the album's heaviest and maybe proggiest song. I am truly amazed how the heaviness gives way to lyricism in a superb instrumental section before resuming the verse, definitely one of the highlights of the album. Interminable Beige Thing is a brief, yet no-nonsense instrumental intermission that leads us to the title-track (according to William Blake's biographer Alexander Gilchrist, he had a vison of " tree filled with angels, bright angelic wings bespangling every bough like stars"). This time there are some eastern melodies interspersed by the violin. The vocal melodies are magnificent and a personal favourite of mine is when they change the signature from 4/4 to 12/8. These guys can truly do slight (or not) changes to keep the interest intact and the listener focused on the music. All Heaven's Break Loose is a more upbeat song and slightly out of context with the rest of the album. Definitely not a bad song with some great bass lines, but it falls a bit short compared to the previous ones; otherwise, it would be a five- star album, in my book.

I am positive that the majority of the prog rock fans will find the album worth-checking. Please don't pass it by.