SUGARSTEALER

The end of an era was really close for Mr. So & So during 1998/99.Job commitments and financial problems led slowly to the dissolution of the band, which occured in 2000, with Dave Foster, Charlotte Evans and Leon Parr continuing together in the band Sleeping Giant and Kieran Twist joining legendary drummer Carl Palmer in Quango.Five years later Foster was playing alongside Shaun McGowan's girlfriend Nicola Jones in a Sting tribute band and soon the group gathered together with Charlotte Evans accepting the invitation.However Parr and Twist were unavailable at the time.Shaun McGowan met one Anthony Hindley in a Bolton shop, who also happened to be a Mr. So & So fan.He became the new keyboardist of the band and also brought along his friend and drummer Stuart Browne.Mr. So & So's new chapter opened the same way the old one closed: by supporting Marillion on a live show.In 2009 the new album of the band was released independently, titled ''Sugarstealer''.

After this unexpected turn of events Mr. So & So's new effort couldn't be anything else than a joyful, pleasant and optimistic comeback to their Neo Prog roots, where the British lyricism is dominant throughout the album and the standard light symphonic colors are surrounded by an incredible sound diversity, including rockin' tunes, poppy sensibilities and Art Rock fragments.This is definitely the most accesible of all the releases of the band so far, split in 18 tracks, some of which work just as short interludes and bridges between longer compositions.The music is quite tricky but not very inventive, recalling more of JADIS' controversial albums than resembling to the band's slightly PINK FLOYD-ian stylings of the past, this does not mean that the album is bad, it's extremely consistent and focused on dynamic pieces with clean vocals, rhythmic guitars, soft keyboards (including some nice organ twists) and a tight bass/drums support, characterized by effective melodies, tapping grooves and some laid-back atmospheres.First half of the album sounds really fresh and energetic with the brand new side of the band in full display, but the second one is more convincing, eventually containing hints of their well-adapted FLOYD-ian touches, some more epic atmospheres, pronounced keyboards and more emotional vocal and instrumental material.

Welcome back Mr. So & So!One of the lesser known acts of British Neo Prog, there is some serious songwriting talent here along with some unique atmospheric ideas, even if ''Sugarstealer'' lacks the adventurous instrumental exhibitions of Prog Rock.Recommended.