TOUCHING THE EDGE

The second chapter in the story of the comeback by Scottish progressive rock band Beggars Opera continues pretty much where the first one left off. This time around we're treated to a quirkier product than their previous effort though. Especially the first half of the album tends to focus on the use of subtle dissonances and dampened challenging features, at times reminding slightly of King Crimson and at others actually sounding a bit like Rush, especially on the number Frozen on an Eye.

After this effort we're served four even more elaborately made creations, of the kind that I have marked down as brilliant stuff but not describable. Art rock for sure, challenging, but no direct references in terms of associations or subgenre placement easily made. Almost as good and totally different is the last effort Auschwitz, a slow majestic affair featuring a rich symphonic backdrop with a delicate guitar solo on top slowly fluctuating with subtle alterations in timbre and intensity, with a brief vocal passage at the midway point and the very end.

Overall a very strong effort that should have a strong appeal for those who like sophisticated art rock featuring touches of subtle finesse rather than outright and upfront challenging features.