GRAK II BLAK

Back in 2014 father and son team Kevin and Bruce McDade brought together some musicians and released their debut album, 'Grak'. This in turn was brought to the attention of the Crossover team at ProgArchives and in 2015 we duly passed them for inclusion on PA and I contacted them to get a biography etc. Fast forward to 2023 and I heard from Kevin to tell me they had just released their second album, with the title a nod to their debut. I must confess I do not know who plays on this release, but the last time around Kevin provided the vocals and he and Bruce most of the instrumentation while they did have a few guests, most notably Gareth Roberts on drums. Given a drummer who really knows what they were doing, but I can't say if Gareth returned or if it is someone else.

This is a very English album in so many ways, with music which is wonderfully complex yet also somehow somewhat simplistic, which fits in well with the vocals which are not at the same level. I can imagine some reviewers feeling the singing is detrimental to the overall sound but to my ears it works very well indeed and is the perfect fit. There are times when the guys are pushing a lot of orchestral sounds, but also bringing in styles which are more dance in its concept, all with the feeling of an underground British act who would be happier releasing this on cassette tape as opposed to digitally. Although accepted by crossover, which is the right place for them, there are also times when they would fit more happily into neo and the switching of styles within the lengthy "Out of the Shadows" (love the folk mandolin) is just insane but somehow it works. Their outro is a majestic fanfare which oen can imagine Wakeman having fun with.

This is a release which should not belong in the 21st century, yet I am pleased it does as this is a fun ride while never taking itself at all seriously. Available to download from Bandcamp at the princely sum of just £7 GBP, this captures all that is fun about the underground indie progressive scene.