HOUSE OF THE MIND

Another masterpiece from the multi-talented Comedy Of Errors.

I seriously loved their previous album "Spirit" it was perfectly put together and I thought it would be difficult to replicate the complex depth and success of that album but "House of the Mind" gets us there.

First track really sets the pace, after a scene setting melodic slow keyboard intro, the rhythm gets us going at high speed like "Tachyon". After nearly two minutes the vocals come in and the rhythm gets ramped up, strong rock, lots of great keyboard and superb guitar play near the end of this track. Memorable lyrics throughout. Brilliant opener.

The title track is very ambitious. Right from the start there are complex, competing sounds and ideas. Tons of invention here, at times atmospheric , other times pacey and punchy, brilliant guitar leads and outstanding, vivid keyboard work, with counter melodies and a huge range of sound. The music and the lyrics describe a struggle about our feelings and the meaning of our lives. I like "we were lost right from the start" and "call it faith, call it love" and at the end how it's all "safe in the house of the mind". I had to listen to this track a few times before I really got it there's so much in it but I'm there now! Love it.

The instrumental "A Moment's Peace" is just perfect. A clever contrast between the giant tracks on the album. It's a serious, feel good piece, and as always with Comedy of Errors, just a little atmospheric. This is an instant favourite. The fourth track and the shortest on the album is "One Fine Day". An easy, relaxed , dreamy song harking back to childhood (probably). Vocals shine here as always, brilliantly supported by keyboard throughout. Could be wrong but somewhere in the middle of this track, I had a feeling of "Strawberry Fields". Nice one.

For me the highlight of this stunning album is track 5. "Song of Wandering Jacomus" is a bit special. Right from the get go we know this going to be momentous, with the keyboard's magical, cosmic like sounds. Then overlaid with an exceptional guitar section which brings in a classical like climax before it fades away back to keyboard, then overlaid with guitar and later drums before a fantastic vocal entry. So after nearly five minutes of clever, complex build up with all the Band's elements coming together, like an orchestra, we arrive at a familiar sound which to me is unique "Comedy of Errors". It's the relaxed sound of the Band in full swing, "one day we will walk through this world hand in hand". Brilliant. Then there is outstanding guitar and keyboard development which brings us back full circle to the earlier tune and vocals including the classical theme from earlier. Brilliant the way these classical type sounds are integrated into the song. Then it's back to the atmospheric keyboard drifting away to the end. This track is seriously addictive.

The finale is a bonus track "Ever be the prize". The beautiful, cosmic, two minute introduction gives no clue to the pace that arrives to bring in the guitar and vocals with this solid rock song. The song develops with the usual mixture of innovative sounds before exploding into the full "Comedy Of Errors" treatment with exceptional guitar playing and the Band at full throttle. A fitting climax.

An inspiring, brilliant album. I've nothing but praise for everyone in Comedy of Errors but especially Jim Johnston who writes all the songs and isn't afraid to experiment with different styles. Comedy Of Errors just keep getting better and the possibilities for this Band are limitless.

Neo prog of the first order with a bit too much familiarity and simpleness where and when divergence and experimentation could have made it so much more interesting. Plus, the production is flawed by sterile sounding individually-separated instruments.

1. "Tachyon" (6:21) the cheap imitation piano sound used in opening does not bode well for this album. The bouncy "Dreamer"-like piano foundation in part 2 does not inspire any more hope or confidence. We're already almost two minutes into this and it still doesn't feel ready to "start"--and yet the vocals enter in the third minute--distant multi-voiced 80s/Thomas Dolby-sounding voices melodically duplicated by a synth. By the fourth minute we at least have a little more fully developed weave established. The vocal melody just doesn't crack it. (8/10)

2. "House Of The Mind" (14:47) a decent prog epic that, unfortunately, shows little novelty or freshness. (8.5/10)

3. "A Moment's Peace" (4:15) Wow! does this belong on a New Age/Adult Easy Listening radio stream, or what? And not even a word much less lyrics despite the ABACAB set up. (7/10)

4. "One Fine Day" (2:48) Seriously! This is the finished product? This is the vocal of a professional? It sounds like a demo by some one-man garage band! (6/10)

5. "Song Of Wandering Jacomus (13:47) nice atmospheric instrumental opening for the first four minutes. The third section that begins in the fifth minute is too syrupy--even before the sappy vocals enter. The guitar and keyboard work is decent. It's just those vocals... Horrible build and peak. Too bad. This one had potential. (7.5/10)

Bonus song (on CD): "Ever Be the Prize" (9:00) decent song. If it only didn't sound like IQ trying to be GENESIS... (8/10)

Three stars; an acceptable addition to the Neo Prog catalog--though nothing I'm going to shout out about.

It was only when recently reviewing the latest opus from Comedy of Errors that I realised I had somehow missed their 2017 album, 'House of the Mind'. This was their fourth album since they got back together, and of course there have been two more since then. At this point they were releasing an album every two years, something somewhat unusual for bands from the Neo scene, as while most had a heavy release schedule in the Nineties it had somewhat diminished in recent years. But given they were not active at all for 20 years perhaps they were making up for lost time.

Unlike many of the bands who started making a name for themselves in the Neo scene in the 90's and beyond, CofE are from an earlier era, having been formed in 1984 by Joe Cairney (vocals) and Jim Johnston (keyboards), who are still there in the current day. They recorded with Rog Patterson (who recently has been found opening for Pendragon on their recent tour), and due possibly to their geographical remoteness from the South have always pursued their own path, with this album being very much a case in point as while there are obvious Yes and Genesis influences, as well as bombastic symphonic, there is also a definite nod to Horslips. Joe's vocals are not diminished by age, and even though they utilise two guitarists in Mark Spalding (who was in the band from very early days) and Sam McCulloch, it is Jim Johnston who normally provides the attack with the guitars coming in over the top to provide additional emphasis at the right time. They are quite different to many prog bands with twin guitars, such as Final Conflict, as for them the twin leads are about drama and effect. The line-up is completed by John Fitzgerald (bass) and Bruce Levick (drums) who provide the foundation for the band to move and swirl in sound.

Although still Neo, which means some progheads will naysay the music without even listening to it, there is a large symphonic feel to this album which was released on vinyl as five tracks and 41 minutes, while the CD has one more and an additional nine. Their music has a somewhat commercial approach, which makes it very easy to listen to and get inside, yet there are also hidden depths which means the more it is played the more there is to discover, moving from pastoral orchestral to music which hard rock guitar and all forms of prog in between. I am late to the party on this one, but I am so glad I finally discovered it as this is yet another great release which is well worth discovering if you enjoy Neo.