YEAR ZERO

After being very disappointed with "Sleepers" and "Following Ghosts" my perseverance finally pays off with "Year Zero". The reason I have not given up on this band is my love for Stuart Nicholson's vocals. John Wetton adds some lead and backing vocals as well.They thank Andy Thompson from LITMUS and Planet Mellotron for the use of both his mellotron and minimoog. This is a concept album based on starting over or new beginnings, bringing more meaning to the album's title. There is also some reflective passages where they look back on the good and the bad. This is really mean't to be one long song that is broken into sections.

"Year Zeroverture" takes a while to get going as mellotron can be heard and flute. 2 minutes in we start to get a full sound with electronics and percussion. A real melody after 3 minutes sounds great, check out the mellotron ! "Belt Up" opens with the sound of a female choir, voices and thunder. Guitar comes in with synths right behind. Tremendous sound at this point. We finally get to hear Stuart's vocals for the first time. And i'm not disappointed. The soaring guitar is fantastic ! Mellotron follows. I love these guys ! "Ever The Optimist" opens with minimoog and is spacey. Vocals sing "Open your eyes, see the vista of light" a couple of times before some scorching guitar comes in. Nice. The guitar soars later on as drums beat crisply. "The Charlotte Suite" continues with the same sound with the vocals, guitar and drums. "Haunted" opens with fragile vocals that get stronger. A full sound a minute in. The guitar is again so appealing, as is the organ that follows. Such a good track. "Democracy" is the longest song by far at just under 10 minutes. Spacey sounds with lots of atmosphere to open. We start to hear guitar sounds and then an electronic beat.3 minutes in we get some heavy, raw riffing. Headbanging time. The riffs stop and then the beat stops as spacey sounds return. Electronics 7 minutes in as song continues until ending with mellotron. "Baroque And Roll Dementia" has a good, catchy beat with vocal melodies part way through. I like it. "A Deeper Understanding ?" opens with spacey sounds as synths and drums follow. Vocals arrive and then flute and sax. "The Jazz Suite" is jazzy indeed with bass, light drums and piano leading the way. "Take A Deep Breath And Hold On Tight" has mellotron, guitar and vocals that all shine brightly. Too short though. "Hindsight Pt. 1-Piano And Clarinet" features piano until surprise !... the clarinet comes in. Nice track. "Hindsight Pt.2-A Very Clever Guy Indeed" features vocals and piano. This really reminds me of Fish-era MARILLION. Great track. Guitar arrives 4 minutes in. "The September Suite" is dramatic sounding to open. Waves of synths wash through. Church organ to end it. "World Watcher" continues with the organ from the previous song but with Stuart singing his heart out. "Deceptive Vistas / Postscript-Perspective" opens with great vocals as guitar and mellotron make this an excellent closing track. Very epic sounding with the trumpet and choirs to end it.

It's easy to tell that a lot of heart and soul went into this album, all I have to say is bravo !

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