PROMISES OF HOPE

THE BARDIC DEPTHS returns with a new line up for this second album "Promises Of Hope", the main innovation being the presence as a full member of Peter JONES, Robin ARMSTRONG co-producing the disc and intervening as an additional musician.

The synopsis of the album was written by the American history professor Brad BIRZER co-founder of THE BARDIC DEPTHS (and co-composer of the majority of the songs), it describes the pangs of suicide and their possible redemption. Nine titles for just over an hour of music are on the menu. It should also be noted that this "Promises of Hope" is dedicated to the memory of David LONGDON, who died accidentally and too soon.

Our meal begins with "And She Appeared", one of the most energetic tracks on the album halfway between progressive and pop prog, a catchy track that makes you want to take a few dance steps, frequentable without however, cry genius (8/10). "Regal Pride" follows this easy-to-listen appetizer, a very cool "down" tempo also popping with a nice saxi motif (7/10) but a bit too repetitive for my taste then the long "Consumed" and its almost eight minutes with a Celtic connotation (Peter JONES' Penny Whistle being no stranger to it), melodic rock more than progressive rock, a term also claimed by Dave BANDANA himself, one of my favorite pieces from the album (9/10).

My favorite will be the following "The Burning Flame", a slightly mysterious track at its start, little and superbly sung (Peter JONES obviously), carried by the solo guitars of Kevin McCORMICK first then of Gareth COLE, the first beauty in music it is there (10/10). Full colors and shapes, saxophone as if it were raining, only Peter JONES is capable of such a performance on the instrument, a top-of-the-range and altogether adventurous instrumental range (9/10). "Why Are You Here?" what follows, sax always in the preamble but with vocals, a piece that I personally and subjectively find a little soft, fortunately enhanced by the work of the six strings in the middle, correct without more (7/10).

The two shortest titles of the album now with first of all "Returned" with an oriental tendency, more pop than prog, interesting without being a peak either; note the metronomic drumming driven by Tim GEHRT, drummer of the group STREETS (Steve WALSH) at the dawn of the eighties (8/10), then "The Essence" which is frankly inspired by the same period with a flavor A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS for diehards who know (the guitar like the rhythmic pair and even the vocal intonations that could come from Mike SCORE's throat!), I like it a lot but I'm not impartial on this one... . (9/10).

The end clap with "Imagine", the longest title on the disc, almost ten minutes, introduced on the church organ by Richard KREUGER before the appearance of the mellotron in powerful pads (Paolo LIMOLI) coupled with the piano of the same man and the lyrical guitar of Gareth COLE, we will not forget Peter's cheerful saxophone (again and always) which sends this totally progressive piece into another dimension, well sung by Dave BANDANA and Peter JONES and which ends like it started with a short church organ score (10/10).

The grumpy will say that THE BARDIC DEPTHS didn't invent anything, which I agree on, but it's so pleasant and well put together that forgiveness is in order.