As regular readers of this little blog will know, Friday night is usually Mr Laz going on  a bus eight miles to town for drinkies with my two best mates. However, this week, one is in Majorca, and the other in Bournemouth, so I didn't bother, and, instead, took Mrs Lazland for Friday night Steak Night at one of our two local hostelries. Romantic devil, eh?

Said steak was palatable, and, on return, Mrs Gorgeous put the goggle box on, and I settled down to some hard earned end of week prog. This, then, is a bit of a Brucey Bonus (don't worry, only UK people over the age of 40 will know what the hell I am on about!), as Friday is usually only drinking, and not listening.

I gave the new Mostly Autumn album, Dressed In Voices, a second spin. It has, in all honesty, merely confirmed my initial thoughts from earlier this week. It is the band's masterpiece, and the rating in my forthcoming review presently stands at a proud five stars. I will, though, give it a few more listens before putting fingers to keyboard.  The emotion, and the bleak, bloody, story behind a stirring, almost symphonic wall of sound (although this is an album which fuses that with more traditional Celtic fused folk, heavy bursts, and even a little bit of country music), reach parts that only the finest music reaches. They have threatened to release something indispensable for a few years, and now Bryan has come up with the goods, an album which should lift them to the pinnacle of the Premier League of prog. Some of the staggering sounds produced by Iain Jennings on keys, and their interaction with Josh's soaring guitars, defy belief, and Olivia is not only growing into the perfect foil for her new husband's vision, but a mighty fine vocalist in her own right. Very highly recommended, a review will follow shortly.

Then, as lovely wife continued to watch Cops At Play, or some such thing, a little mix to wind down the working week, and prepare for the weekend.

Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman & Howe. Birthright. Yes East, and a very humane song based upon a real island race's struggle for justice after we dropped a rather big nuclear test bomb on their island. I really wish that this project had not fallen away under the weight of politics and Union, because this was a fine LP.

Anthony Phillips. End Of The Affair. A beautiful acoustic piece from Private Parts and Pieces Seven. I never have understood people who think such joy is boring. 

Arena. Purgatory Road. From Pepper's Ghost, and an album I gave a rather lukewarm three star rating to, and rather offish comments about this track being "rock by numbers". Perhaps I was being a little bit harsh, although it is by no means their finest, and this album was a slight disappointment after a good run of classy albums. 

Camel. Rajaz. The title track from my personal favourite from this great band, which makes the fact I have not reviewed it even more strange. Note to self. Stop blogging, and do more reviews! A gorgeously melancholic look at life, the band, and Latimer, in particular, never sounded so good. Camel got better over the years, in my opinion, and the lilting guitar solo captures Andy at his most mournful, with that hint of Mid Eastern promise.

Fleetwood Mac. Say You Will. The title track from the reunion studio album, a nice little Nicks number which is pleasant without being anywhere near essential.

Black Sabbath. Die Young. Those whom the Gods love.......and Dio is no longer with us. He wasn't a spring chicken, but neither was he that old. I loved the Heaven & Hell album, and this is the highlight from that masterpiece. Classic heavy rock at its best, from pounding riffs to thoughtful reflection.

Peter Gabriel. Downside Up. The Ovo version, not the live one with Melanie. This is sumptuous, and I must urge those who have shunned the great man's soundtrack albums to reconsider, because as much effort to produce exceptional music goes into these as the more "traditional" Gabriel music albums. Elizabeth Fraser's fragility is wonderful, and the closing beats are a wonder to behold.

Marillion. A Few Words For The Dead. From Radiation. I have never really understood why this album attracts so little affection. It is the band at the height of their experimental, progressive (not trad prog) phase, and this builds up from a thoughtful  start to a shuddering climax. I had the pleasure and honour of getting an advance preview of the album in the studio, as it was mixed by Phil Beaumont in my old hometown of Oswestry. I asked, and I got!

Judie Tzuke. Bully. Genius, from the album Secret Agent, a track which can only be interpreted in the most personal manner. It will mean different things to different people, with memories flooding in as a result. The deceptively quiet start to the denouement builds to the most incredibly emotional wall of sound that voices can produce. Highly recommended as an artist and album to those who appreciate quality female singer songwriter's.

It's getting lateish, and Mrs Wife wants a bit more than my physical presence with earphones stuck in!

Thanks again to all of you who take the trouble to read, and, indeed, comment, on my musings. I am, indeed, honoured.

That Fate's Warning version was, indeed, a corker.

I was rather hard on Pepper's Ghost, but, as you know, Immortal?, and, especially, The Visitor were so much superior. I actually think that Arena's masterpiece is still to hit us, and I hope it's the next one.

As Jane Austen undoubtedly said to Napoleon II, thanks for reading!

Another review today, this time of Sean Filkins wonderful War And Peace & Other Stories. This purchase was thanks to my old friend, Thomas (Tszirmay). When Thomas gives a rave review to an album, it is almost certain that 

I will feel the same and really appreciate it. He is, of course, not the only such reviewer I follow on the site, but, it is fair to say, he is more responsible than most for debits in the old bank account!

Tonight, having worked on, and posted, the review, I am watching a documentary about a great Welsh footballer, John Hartson, he of Arsenal, West Ham, and Celtic fame. For this type of show, it is very interesting and entertaining. Of course, tomorrow, the World Cup starts. I, tomorrow, will start to think of appropriate prog to play whilst watching the games. Does anyone have any ideas?

I have to be honest, Scott, and say I had never even heard of it until your post, let alone listened to it.

The great man did done fantastic stuff, but also, by his own admission, a lot of rubbish. 

Which does this fall under?

 

Edit: This is the only YouTube vid you need to watch...I saw the whole game live as an 11 year old in my granny's lounge at a little Welsh mining village named CwmCelyn nr Blaina, Gwent.

 

 

 

The best bit starts at around 1:51:00

 

The old house at the end of Gwalia Terrace still stands today, but the 'feeder' pond and surrounding area looks nothing like the above painting of it from way back when. More info at http://ebbwfachtrail.org.uk/cwmcelyn-pond-woods-page-1/4552569637.

They think it's all over.........can't see it happening this year, though....

Nice website, David. That area is about 40 miles from us.