THE LOWER DEPTHS

LANDS END's most recent studio album is a double with the first disc coming in at over 65 minutes and the second disc over 71 minutes.That's a lot of music. As usual the enviroment is the subject matter with this California band. Some guests here including Cathy Alexander from the Folk band THE MORRIGAN on vocals, but more importantly to me we also get the great Bruce Soord on guitar for two tracks, and he sings also on one of those. I must admit i've always had some issue with this band. Either the sound quality or the poor sounding vocals, thankfully this sounds fine but I must admit that I don't like the female vocals or the regular singer Jeff McFarland. So yes this is a long freaking recording to sit through which i've done about 5 times now. I really like the cover art though.

"Digital Signatures" kicks in before a minute followed by a beat. Female vocals as it settles before 3 1/2 minutes. Synths before 7 minutes give us a Neo-Prog flavour. It settles with guitar a minute later. "Behind The Iron Gates" opens with birds singing and they hang around for some time as the music continues. "Why Should I?" is the only track i like and Bruce sings the lyrics and plays some guitar on it.

"Hope Springs Eternal" opens with synths washing in. They leave as vocals and piano come in around 2 minutes. Lots of synths late. "A New World Order" features those female vocals.They come and go throughout this over 24 minute track. I like the bass after 4 minutes and the spacey synths too. A good sound 19 1/2 minutes in as well as the guitar comes to the fore but unfortunately it's brief. "Believe In What" features acoustic guitar and reserved vocals throughout. Disc two if anything is not as good. There is some good stuff in the over 53 minute "Acquiesce To The Martinets Precept". Of course at that length i'd hope so.

Fans only.