HOW MUCH ARE YOU WILLING TO FORGET?

Excellent album from a band I confess I don't know that much about. Their hometown is Aylesbury and they have been performing and recording for over ten years. The 'interweb' revealed their influences to be Radiohead, Pink Floyd and Incubus. This album was released in January of 2013 and features 9 tracks. The album cover is striking and is pretty 'prog' to me. Can you tell a band is prog by the cover? I think album covers sometimes reveal intent, and to this extent I wasn't disappointed. The band is comprised of Ellis Mordecai (great name!) on guitar/vocals, Andrew Day on guitar, Peter Coussens on bass and Vaughan Abrey on drums. Mordecai and Coussens apparently have a musical connection dating back to the late 90's.

The album opens strongly with 'Out There'. It features piano, so someone uncredited plays keyboards on this album. Mordecai's vocals remind me of John Young from Lifesigns. I must say it is pleasing to see yet another album from a band I like as much as Lifesigns. It's nice to know there is still life in the old prog genre. This band would fit nicely alongside Steven Wilson. The melodies are well-structured and weave in and out intricately. The second song 'My Empty Head' demonstrates a confidence and surehandedness which reminds me very much of aforementioned Mr. Wilson. 'Counting Time' is a mid-tempo song which reminds me of early Floyd in places. I really like Mordecai's vocals on this song. 'Breathless' begins with a nice spanish-style acoustic guitar section. There is a sublimal 'Hotel California' motif (check it for yourself and see if I'm right) and then the vocals kick in. This is a great song and the longest track here. The lyrics are thoughtful and intelligent. Thank god - I like a good lyric - it even helps when they are thought-provoking. If Steven Wilson has enough on his plate, a great double bill would be a tour featuring Flicker and Lifesigns. Just a thought. 'Intro' is next - a stacatto instrumental heralding the excellent track 'Go', which is my favourite on the album. The guitar phrasing is excellent and the song again features pleasant, unstrained vocals from Ellis Mordecai. The next three tracks are solid and, all in all, I would like to recommend this album to those of you who have yet to check them out. I don't think you will be disappointed.