HEMISPHERES

Not an exercise in self-indulgence but an album full of great and complex arrangements, solid writing, a few menacing riffs and an inspired, thumping sound that eludes the glory of the early 70s hard rock and metal scene, intertwined with the complexity and pretention of prog rock - this is what you get with Rush's 'Hemispheres', the second album the band recorded in the UK and one of the shortest prog LPs you might ever find. Taking up the formula of '2112' to an extent, the band's sixth studio offering features a side-long epic on side one, and three more tracks on side two. The epic is of course the majestic second part (or book) of the 'Cygnus X-1' opus introduced on 'A Farewell to Kings'. This 18-minute title track is a perfect example of prime Rush songwriting and tight playing, arranged in seven sections that deal with complex themes including the Apollo-Dionysus antithesis as well as societal collapse. Consistent and confident, we have an epic that is both musically and emotionally rich and perhaps overshadows '2112' in terms of overall sound and presentation.

The second side of 'Hemispheres' opens up with a classic Rush track - 'Circumstances', which is also the most conventional song on the album. This one has a trademark, hard-hitting, lush riff from Lifeson and bolsters some of the strongest Geddy Lee vocals on a Rush record. 'The Trees' is probably the odd one out, a slightly more pastoral, quirky piece that deals with a very abstract (and even trippy) story, not the best offering by the band but a song that gets progressively better as it reaches its second half. And finally, there is the classic 10-minute instrumental 'La Villa Strangiato'; this is a bombastic entry and an overly impressive effort by Rush. Despite its title, this track is one of the most consistently excellent pieces of music on any Rush album, a tense piece that keeps you aware at all times. 'Hemispheres' is a classic and a mandatory listen, and while it might not be entirely perfect, it is imperfectly pristine, gripping, and impressive.