FEARFUL SYMMETRY

The 2022 release 'The Difficult Second' was the follow-up to the 2019 debut 'Louder Than Words'. That album was more of a duo project by Suzi James and Jeremy Shotts along with some guest musicians on half of the tracks, but this release is written, composed and produced by Suzi, with a song lyric and much appreciated support from Jeremy. On this release she provides guitars, basses, keyboards, mandolin, oud, e-violin, percussion, and backing vocals and is joined by singer Yael Shotts and drummer Sharon Petrover, who both featured on the first album. Suzi is a busy lady these days, currently hard at work on the third FS album, plus she is working on the next Checking For Echo, the second release by T.A.P. and she also guested on the latest Drifting Sun, so she has a lot going on.

This never sounds like a project but the work of a full band, and by bringing in a great drummer and wonderful singer Suzi has not only kept continuity from the first release, but this has released her to work on the arrangements and get the best from the songs. It is quite unusual for musicians to be able to play guitars, stringed instruments and keyboards, but that appears to be no issue for Suzi who often has a lovely thick bass sound which moves in and around the melody to provide a wonderful foundation. Too often bassists spend all their time at the end of the neck, but Suzi has a deft touch and brings in some high bass notes to provide wonderful accents. This is a solid crossover release, but one never knows where it is going to go as not only can there be some symphonic moments, but we can get some quite striking neo-style guitar while there are also some Eastern influences at play at times.

The result is an album which is fresh, interesting and exciting, and the more it is played the more layers there are to discover. Even though this album is a few years old, I note there is only one other review on PA (written by my good friend Thomas) which is a real shame as here is a release that many progheads will enjoy as it is highly melodic, carefully arranged and produced, and while it can be enjoyed the first time it is played there are some nice depths to keep discovering.

I have come across bands in many different ways over the years, but I think this is the first time it has ever happened due to a case of mistaken identity! A friend of mine tagged me on Facebook regarding a review I had supposedly written ? a quick check of my files and we discovered she had confused me with another writer, so she amended the post. This in turn got me wondering who this band actually were, as I had not come across them before. It transpires that they are a duo of Suzi James and Jeremy Shotts, plus some additional musicians. They provide some background, saying "We're rock and prog-rock fans, (but not exclusively), going way back, who wanted to create something new, inspired by the 'progressive' music we've listened to over the years. The music on our debut album, 'Louder Than Words', is an affectionate homage to classic prog: new compositions but aiming to convey a familiar and beloved sound and feel. Fearful Symmetry is not so much a band, more an aesthetic - a set of principles defining our approach to this music - not constrained by genre but seeking to capture and blend a mix of styles. How we arrived at this concept wasn't born out of pre-conceived notions. It evolved from conversations between two cousins, both with a love for music - listening and playing."

They have also brought in additional singers, both male and female, yet it does feel more like a band than a project, although on their website they are at pains to point out this is only a studio project and not one which will play live. This is light and fresh neo-prog, which also contains elements of bands such as Alan Parsons Project. Songs can be fairly simple and easy to get understand, while there are others where they put in some incredibly complex runs with guitar and keyboards as one. This is a concept album, inspired by William Blake, and they provide some interesting notes on the rationale behind each song and how it relates to Blake on their website, which is well worth investigating. This is a fresh and interesting album, and it will be interesting to see where they go from here, as while there are some places when it feels it does not really hit the mark due for one reason or another, there are plenty of others where it is exciting and inviting. This album is available both physically and digitally so why not check it out on Bandcamp.

This is the project of Suzi James, a British songwriter, multi-instrumentalist (guitars, keys, bass) as well as a vocalist and by all accounts a rather awesome person. I never met her online or otherwise, so one can only rely on the type of music she proposes, in order to see what she is like. Well, based on a first spin, the Difficult Second is an upbeat, groovy, at times intense but generally optimistic serving, with world class chops to boot. Progland has a plethora of dark and doom-laden acts, as well as the other extreme in lighter, cheerier accessible artists, each with tons of variations in style and substance. This is a trio with James relying on the mellifluous Yael Shotts on lead vocals and the incredible Sharon Petrover on drums (who is a revelation throughout this disc). I also noticed in the credits a thank you to prog entrepreneur Pat Sanders of Drifting Sun fame (we are good friends, eh, Pat?) for feedback, assistance, and advice. No one better suited?.

The set list contains an hour of music, spread over 10 tracks but it's really more of a sonic travelogue, with each stop being a separate little paradise of sound, from quirky, to jazzy, exotic to epic, all the ingredients need for quite the progressive buffet. The instrumental prowess is top notch, as Suzi can play that the 6 and 4 strings fretboards with zeal, her splendid keyboard work is an eye opener. Early San Francisco-inspired psychedelia on the opener "Mood Swings and Roundabouts", a stage for Suzi to show off her playing skills, rumbling bass, screeching guitar, organ fills while Petrover tightens the beat, and Shotts singing like a Slick Grace. It's a breezy, jangly, and somewhat happy go lucky tune with precise soloing that has that slight hint of Canterbury 'laissez-faire'. They are having fun. The title track begins playfully enough but this time in a jazzier fusion realm, paced with tic-toc drumming, technical guitar phrasings galore, showing that they can serious fun as well. Stir in some fine electric piano and that raucous bass into the mix and you will be conquered. Tic-toc indeed.

A modest pop song, with a striking chorus and a delightful pace, "Light of My Life" has a natural, organic, easy-peasy way about telling a lovely story, until the arrangement kicks in with sweeping orchestrations, a delicately insistent piano settling with a suggestive bass partnership, before rejoining the comfort zone. Finished off with a soaring guitar foray, all sunshine and spirit. Hummable, drummable, memorable.

Quick flight into the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, as the overt Saharan strains are unmissable on the undulating "Shifting Sands", an oasis of progressive creativity, conjuring vivid images of arid wilderness, a caravanserai of ululating choir work that takes the breath away. This could be a soundtrack for a remake of Casablanca, LOL. Second stop on the journey, the mystical "Eastern Eyes" fixates on the Sphinx, a slightly rawer effort, with Yael singing her story, highlighted by Sharon's masterful and masterful percussive display. Suzi channels her snake charming guitar playing with both a 'pungi' flute and a cobra, as the arrangement adds some wicked e-piano work as well. Three Cleopatras at work, musical pearls dissolved in vinegar.

Two shorter pieces, and speaking of alluring women, "The Song of the Siren" is a return to a more conventional though insistent style, tight as clam, motivated and engaging. Ornate piano motif, great vocals once again from Yael. "Hope" is a companion piece, jazzier in an almost Californian American style but offering solace and understanding after a few years of bunker lifestyle solitude. Upbeat and most welcome panacea.

A return to the North African feel, with two more consecutive tracks, both absolute highlights : "Sandworm" and "Shukraan Jazilaan". The first shifts clearly into a more complex, technically demanding exercise in craftsmanship, the instrumental display is elaborately exuberant, as best expressed by a whopping synth solo, followed by the axe, then in tandem, while the four-string monster bellows in the foreground. All nailed in place with hermetic Petrover drum work. The second gives Suzi the opportunity to utilize Arab instruments (oud, darbouka) along with her usual arsenal, and the combination is dreamy, explosive, and very, very prog. Her e-guitar solo is simply outstanding.

Finally, keeping the best for last, the epic nearly 15-minute extravaganza "Warlords" which stamps the complete prog credentials on this sophomore release, laden with grandiose keyboards, sublime guitar wailings, bruising bass undertow and muscular percussive power, all within overtly melodic confines. Bombastic, technical, playful, it possesses all the comfortably numb attributes that make prog often so exhilarating, the contrasting speeds, juxtaposed with sizzling twists and bold turns, change of pace and mood variations. Add some very angelic Yes-ish vocals, with historical lyrics, this is a killer piece that should be heard to be believed.

All in all, a very pleasant foray into a band that should draw the admiration of many. Three hugely talented musicians.

4 Terrified Equilibriums