ENGLISH ELECTRIC (PART TWO)

I thought English Electric Part I was one of the best modern prog albums I had heard and I really looked forward to hear the second part. Well now I have done it carefully and I must say I am disappointed. This albums doesn't match the other more than on some places and there it feels like they have reused melodies and thoughts. I'm thinking about the song "Keeper of Abbeys" which is catchy and melodic, but it feels alrealdy done, the same with otherwise excellent "The Permanent Way". That fact doesn't lower my rating, it's just a remark.

The cover picture harmonizes with the first part of English Electric Duo. What have happened since first part. The very rich group of guest musicians on the first record, I can't se them on the list of participants. That one(last record) I found so fresh and interesting and the feeling I had was often folk rock, which I love. This isn't the same. I hear the same vocals and David Longdon sings well and the other guys do a god job but I can't help it feels week. The first track "East Coast Racer" is long but in no way an epic, I don't mind it. "Swan Hunter" has a great blow arrangement but the song has no sharpeness. "Worked out" is the only track I can really recommend. It is powerful and interesting, skillfully played and sweaping symphonies. "Curator of Butterflies" is also interesting. Perhaps I just wasn't in the right mood for Big Big Train. Or which I assert is this absolutely not like their last effort. I have just heard Part One and now Part Two so I don't know so much about the band. Perhaps somebody knowing their history could say something about what has happened. For me this wasn't enough. I will continue my search for new great prog rock. This year the Italian bands have done best up to now.

All songs: Worked out(8/10), The Permanent Way(8/10), Curator of Butterflies (7/10), Keeper of Abbeys(7/10), East Coast Racer(6/10), Leopards(6/10) and Swan Hunter(6/10) Three Stars!