BLACK STEEPLE CHURCH

Some four years ago I wrote a review of Colouratura's second album, and that it is still the only review on PA says something about the prog scene, just not sure what. Here I am now writing a review of their third album which came out and year ago (and says a lot about my list), and I note that there is not a single review for this on PA either, which I guess means that when it comes to slipping under the radar these guys are experts. The last album saw Nathan James and Ian Beabout joined by assorted guests, one of whom, Derek Pavlic, has been rewarded by now being a full member on this album. While they have again used various guests, this is mostly for drums with Mellotron being added on one song and narration on another, with the rest by the band themselves.

One of the delights of the last album was the way they moved through multiple different styles which made it almost impossible to review, and that is very much the same here as while for the most part this is a more sedate release, they are again not content to sit in one particular area and surely that is what progressive music is all about? Here is prog as a concept as opposed to a straight musical genre. There are times when they use a lot of acoustic guitars and mix in folk influences in a way which feels like very early Seventies yet with more polished production. The arrangements are clever in that they are never overdone and there is plenty of space within the music which allows Nathan's vocals to be direct and supported but never overwhelmed. The emotional pain and suffering within "Shepherd's Throne" is clear as the protagonist realises that by killing another he will never get to heaven.

This release has a lot of depth within, and it certainly pays to listen to this on headphones and pay close attention to what is taking place. It is an album with plenty of dark and light, both musically and lyrically, and is all the better for that. This band has passed many people by, about time that was corrected.