THE CLOCKWORK FABLE

Having loitered and read lots of reviews on this site for quite a while, it's time I wrote my first review. I have selected this album not because it is my favourite (it isn't) but the sheer effort that has been put into this, and it's undeniable quality, demands that it gets a wider listening. Reviews and scores are consistently high, but the number of scores is low in comparison. I expect that its threediscness is putting many people off.

When I first read about this album I was both intrigued and somewhat tentative. Unwilling to splash out on a triple album without hearing some of it first, I tried it out on Spotify. The downside of this is that it shuffles the tracks, which are 50% radio play. However, a short amount of listening was enough to convince me that the music tracks were to my tastes and that the "story" tracks were high quality and worthy of a proper listen.

So I purchased a download (£7.99 is a bargain, believe me), and selected a day when I was working from home and I set out to listen to it in its entirety. And with the exception of a few conference calls to break things up I managed it.

Unusually for me, I was able to follow the story. I am usually terrible at following albums which supposedly tell a story (e.g. "Snow"), but with actual radio plays interspersing the music there really is no excuse hear. Although every other track is non-music at least 2/3 of the running time is attributed to the music, which is what you would expect to listen to once you are familiar with the story.

The quality of the music is high, and also consistent. But there is also a fair degree of variety and many of the tracks are memorable after only one listen. Highlights for me are the Lamplighter suite, Eve's Song, Ditchwater Daisies, and my favourite The Climb. Iron Maiden influences are noticeable here and there, but are mixed up with mellower moments and the use of different vocalists helps prevent the music from sounding samey.

So, like many other reviewers, I encourage others to try this out. It doesn't require as much patience as you might think. The whole production is fantastic ? the effort that has gone into it is admirable and the band deserves much respect.

The only downside I can think of is something a bit picky and personal. I lament that so much prog music demands nasty, clanky, trebly bass tone, and the tone on this album is probably the worst I have heard. Even when using an octave pedal, the tone is thin and weedy and lacks any presence. However, I know some of you guys dig that sound so it won't bother you.

Overall 4 stars. This is very, very good, but not earth-shatteringly outstanding.