TERMINALLY BRAVE

Another album by multi-instrumentalist Ian Gordon, an artist who's music I've come to enjoy a great deal. I cannot understand how this musician remains almost invisible to the music and to the "prog" world as of the four albums that I have of his none have disappointed me - in fact quite the opposite applies. At first when I started my "Ian Gordon" adventure it was with apprehension as I usually am not overly fond of single man multi - instrumentalist works. What drew me to Ian's music was the "neo-prog" tag here on PA and I was curious. Personally I'm glad that I was curious enough to take a peek because what I found is a wealth of musical ideas, a more than competent musician, a voice that has more than a striking resemblance to that of David Bowie (imagine Bowie doing neo-prog) and music full of melody and adventure.

I can't put a tag on the music - all I can say in regard to it is again, imagine David Bowie in progressive territory. It is very keyboard orientated and it is highly melodic. The drumming and guitar work is more than accomplished. The tracks are mainly multi nuanced and go through varieties of moods and melodies. This is a concept work encompassing in Ian Gordon's own words - "The world is at war. People live in fear, afraid of shadowy government organisations and their insidious agendas. As the cost of living soars, rebel factions arise, eager to regain control of the broken society. Little do they know, an agenda of epic proportions is about to be unveiled..."

This is an album that you have to listen to in its entirety for it to hit home. You can't sample bits and pieces in order to make a judgement call. Four stars from me.