FACT AND FICTION

For an album in Neo-Progressive rock, a genre with connotations of slick, airtight production, Fact and Fiction is surprisingly raw and abrasive. Perhaps it is because Twelfth Night released this gem at the outset of this movement, before all manners of production techniques had been tinkered with and explored. So, what we have here is a living, breathing being-very few edges are smoothed, leaving the artist's creations laid bare. Fact and Fiction has the energy and power of a live album, and this quality is enhanced by vocalist Geoff Mann's tendency to strain his voice a bit; perhaps he doesn't have the sustain of more well-known acts, but he sure can add drama to the performance with the best of them. Gabriel, Hammill, Fish..with his vocal acting on Fact and Fiction, Mann deserves a spot among these greats.

Now, the problem that I know will immediately turn away at least half of the initial audience for this review must be addressed. Yes, Fact and Fiction is a blatantly, unabashedly, and utterly unforgivably 80s album! The keyboards, OH THE KEYBOARDS, HOW THEY SHINE!!!! If that last expression just sent a shiver down your spin, turn away now. Alright, Fact and Fiction not like Soft Cell or the Eurythmics or anything like that-it is definitely a progressive rock album-but one listen to Fact and Fiction will leave no questions about into which decade this album was born. If I weren't a fan of this decade at least somewhat, I can tell you I'd probably hate Fact and Fiction. If you are one not bothered by such petty circumstances, feel free to read on.

The compositions on Fact and Fiction form a mosaic-in a rather disjointed way, based on the often off-the-wall lyrics-of the lives of people around the author and the landscape in which they abide. Airy synthesizers rise and fall, forming the brickwork for this city. The main attraction for this beautiful album is the textures and mood swings, which encompass a great many emotions through well-though-out compositions with excellent progressions. My favorite songs are "We Are Sane," "Fact and Fiction," "The Poet Sniffs a Flower," and "Creepshow."