THRENODY FOR A DEAD QUEEN

Comedy Of Errors known in 1988, 4 years after their debut; disbanding then restarting with Joe Cairney, Mark Spalding and Jim Johnston remaining at the helm, in a sort of Aragon, Marillion, Pendragon, Galahad, IQ, Pallas or Abel Ganz; in short, this 7th album falls into the terminology of melodic neo-prog with a melancholy tendency with proven new age detours.

'Summer Lies Beyond' intro new age, evangelistic, melancholic, slow linear tempo contemplating the sea; vocals from Joe and a towering orchestral drift on IQ and Pendragon in spades, synths and guitar on the up; intimate hovering break before the final crescendo. 'Seventh Seal' changes, more dynamic between a Magellan and an overboosted Yes, with predominance of Jim's synths; the almost orchestral second half with ethereal vocals and stratospheric guitar parts. 'We Are Such Stuff as Dreams Are Made On' oriental instrumental interlude, coming from limbo, delicate and relaxing then 'Jane (Came Out of the Blue)' with its 70's love flower for the romantic pop ballad embellished with a beautiful bucolic, consensual solo then 'Through the Veil' closes this triptych with a title similar to 'We Are'; interlude with pad accompanying the mesmerizing church lament tune. 'Threnody for a Dead Queen' and the last of three long sequels for a repetitive journey in which the rhythm seems maintained at its basic momentum; oriental piano, plaintive guitar; you have to wait 5 minutes to have a fat synth that cuts the procession; the Japanese air is not far away, amazing I find Kitaro, Apsaras and Kitajima of course; end at 9 minutes? before the soaring solo guitar and Yessian religious voices. 'And Our Little Life Is Rounded with a Sleep' comes to close this lyrical flight with an enjoyable intimate climate eyeing Sigur Ros and Vangelis. 'Funeral Dance' as a second chance, Mozart, Chopin or Purcell tick the box; baroque at all costs and wink for the fans with the 'Prélude' of their first album; folkloric, bucolic and festive Olfieldian bucolic finish.

Comedy Of Errors never ceases to surprise by offering a sound full of keyboards surfing on the new age at times; a fresh and singular ambient melodic prog rock, innovative that changes from neo, more contemplative, soft and airy, bewitching.