MAKE MINE A LOBSTER

Okay, time for a quick history lesson. Exhibit A came together in 1984 out of the remnants of Mishra and by the time they recorded their debut tape in 1990 their line-up was Dave Foss (vocals), Neil Foss (keyboards),

Steve Watts (bass), Nick Hampson (guitars) and Tony Robertson (drums). I reviewed the album in 1993 and found it very enjoyable indeed and was stoked when they then released the CD 'Out There' the following year, saying that I had no hesitation in recommending the CD to everyone. Now, that was a time in the UK when there were loads of bands in the underground prog scene, with some classic albums being released, but apart from a few fanzines there was no way of getting news out there and many of these bands folded way before they reached the fanbase they deserved.

I hadn't thought of the band in ages until Neil contacted me earlier this year to let me know the band had actually reformed and recorded some new material, and would I be interested in hearing it? So some 30 years on from when I first heard the band, I am now listening to this album, which was released in 2010. There is often a snigger when bands reform as it could be around just one member, but this time it is the reverse as apart from drummer Paul Caswell we have the exact same line-up as we had on the debut. I must be honest and wasn't sure what to expect as I recall the band moving into commercial It Bites areas but what would it be like so many years on? Well, it is hard to realise the band had been away for so long (apparently they reformed in 2007), as this is a recognisable follow-on from the last release with Dave still in fine voice, Neil dominating with keyboards, loads of incredible fluid basslines, nice chunky Neo guitars and drums bringing it all in from the back. This is undoubtedly Neo but there are Crossover tendencies as well, and if one is looking for more prog references then Pallas and Abel Ganz are obvious, and some early Galahad, but mostly this is Exhibit A. this is not the finely polished and massively layered prog we get from many bands these days, nor is it the metallic version which others are straying into, but instead is good old fashioned Neo like they were playing in the Eighties and Nineties.

Well-produced and finished, here we have an album which is incredibly easy to listen to and enjoy the first time of playing, and the more it is listened to the more there is to discover. For those of us who were bucking the trend in the Nineties and listening to prog instead of grunge, then this is a delight.