A PLEASANT SHADE OF GRAY

Have Fates Warning toured the UK ? If they ever do I'm going to see them and THIS album will be part of the reason. If they HAVE toured then I'm gutted I missed them. The album is made of tracks titled 'A Pleasant Shade of Gray'-parts I to XII. Part I sounds like a Tarantino Western movie soundtrack before keyboards take up the opening sequence and segues into track II further developing and showcasing the band as a whole. Part III is where the singer Ray Alder really starts to draw us in,and part IV whilst starting in a restrained manner has really nice tight playing and interplay for the last third of the track. Track V is my favourite and has a bass contribution which reminds me VERY much of Chris Squire. I really like the singing and keyboards on this song. The guitar is also tasteful,economic and very,very effective. The pace picks up in the latter half of the track and draws it to an uptempo end featuring great drumming. I have to say that the band are superb and impress me very much. Track VI has a Dire Straits feel to the beginning,with echoes of Floyd (pardon the pun). Another excellent track which effortlessly slides into track VII. This is an album which should be savored and listened to in its entireity, it makes more sense that way somehow. Track VIII continues the overall theme of excellence whilst track IX has a more acoustic almost Kansas-like feel to it. Track X has a sequencer opening and replays a musical motif which reccurs throughout the album. Track XI takes us deeper and before we know it we are at the finale,track XII. At over 9 minutes it is the longest track on the album. It starts off in sombre mood and develops nicely. Fates Warning are now one of my favourite new prog bands. It's hard to believe they looked and sounded like they wanted to be part of the NWOBHM when they started out. This is an excellent album.