KAVUS TORABI & RICHARD WILEMAN: HEAVEN'S SUN

In between the two collaborations with Matt Baber, Richard Wileman managed to find time not only to record a solo album, 'The Forked Road', but also work with Kavus Torabi on two 20-minute-long tracks which became 'Heaven's Sun' where they were joined by Amy Fry (clarinet, vocals) as well as Caron Hansford (oboe) and Mike Ostime (trumpet). Torabi is rightly seen as one of the most interesting and dynamic songwriters and performers in the UK scene, first coming to prominence in The Monsoon Bassoon and after being guitar tech for Cardiacs for some years he joined them as a full member in 2002. He has been the frontman for Gong for the last decade, often tours with Mediæval Bæbes, and has his own bands, including Knifeworld and Guapo.

While Richard's collaborations are an extension of his own releases, here there are only parts of songs which feel that way as he has been pushed by Kavus in some very different directions. The music here feels very English, and although there are few musical links it reminds me in some ways of Grace, Big Big Train, Geoff Mann and XTC. There is wonderful depth throughout, with both musicians taking their psychedelic progressive music in directions which make sense, but at the outset the listener has no idea where the journey is going to lead or the paths which must be taken to get to the destination. While not as immediate as some of Richard's works, this is an album which ultimately delivers something very special indeed.

Kavus has long been a fan of Richard, releasing his material on the label he keeps for himself and for musicians he really believes in, so it makes perfect sense that he has collaborated with him on this album, and the only question now is when do we get another one? This finds two musicians (and guests) searching for a new identity while never truly losing sight of where they have come from, and with two true multi-instrumentalists who both also provide lead vocals, there is no limit to what they can achieve.

This is a fascinating release and one which needs to be heard far more widely