HEAVY ON THE BEACH

Grand Tour is basically Comedy of Errors (a Scottish refreshingly energetic and sharp neo-prog band) by another name, as the two formations share three quarters of their members. Pure neo-prog is the game here - gorgeous melodies, theatrical vocals, sweeping keyboards, soaring guitars, chunky bass, meandering instrumentals - what bands like Pendragon were doing the 1990s. A crystal clear production. No metal and no techno (a current fad among the neo-prog). Despite the dark subject matter (nuclear war, hippies blah-blah-blah), this is actually a fairly easy-sounding affair. The drawback is the sameness of the sound - the same leisurely pace picking up for a moment before slowing down again - to the point that the songs blend together in a kind of a huge neo-prog song. maybe that was the intention here.