SPIRIT

Comedy of Errors has been on my neo-prog radar since they released Disobey, a wonderful that I knew thanks to the same Joe Cairney who I've been in contact with ever since. And man, I have to tell that they are one of my favorite neo prog bands nowadays, I loved Disobey, I also loved Fanfare & Fantasy, and now I can tell you I love 'Spirit' an ambitious concept album where the neo prog is present, but I could say the band has morphed its sound compared to the previous works, here adding a dose of symphonic and classical music. Here, the band divided the album in 12 short tracks (none of them reaches even the 7-minute mark) giving us 55 minutes of extraordinary progressive rock.

It starts with 'My Grief Lies All Within' and wow, what a powerful way to open this album. I love the energy and the guitars that explode on the first minute, and then I love how it slows down and then Cairney's voice appear very softly, so drums, strings and keyboards create a calm atmosphere that continues like that, with a charming sound until the very end, adding in the last minute a great guitar solo. 'Infinite Wisdom?' starts with energy like the first minute of the previous song, very symphonic but with a touch of metal (or maybe heavy prog). This short track offers a feast of keyboards greatly complemented by vocals (lead and back) and drums. Then when it vanishes and the sound changes, 'Spirit Shines / Spirit' has already started, giving a spacey background in the first minute, but later a sound tender, shiny and bright, representing that spirit that shines. I love the vocals here, both, main and backing vocals.

I love that the album has no pauses required, so at first it is difficult to know when a song finishes and other starts, however, when you listen to it over 3 or 4 times you already notice those changes. 'Can This Be Happening? / Timeless' starts a bit atmospheric, then some heavy guitars appear, again it vanishes but then a rock song begins with a somber atmosphere, a darker and I think more heartfelt voice enter. 'In Darkness Let Me Dwell' has a great game of voices once again, the choir is great and the keyboards superb all the time. I also like a lot the bass notes and the drumming, the rhythm section. And then the lead vocals along with the keyboards create a darker atmosphere. Then all of a sudden it all slows down and 'I Call and Cry to Thee' starts, whose first two minutes are like a choir in a church, then it disappears and the instruments begin to build up a new structure until it explodes at minute 3 with raw guitars and loony keyboards full of energy.

'Set Your Spirit Free / Goodbye My Love Until We Meet Again' has a moment of peace when you can close the eyes and just like the title suggests, set your spirit free. This is a short track that let you take a deep breath. 'Ascension / Et Resurrextit / Auferstehen - Arise In Love Sublime, Arise ' Spirit' is the longest track of the album, reaching almost 7 minutes and it is wonderful how it is progressing little by little, using symphonic classical elements and making our emotions float on, I really love that crescendo and how in a moment it reaches a climax at minute three and then a new structure begins, in which vocals enter. This track might be one of my favorites here, again I love the voices and the keyboard choirs and atmospheres. Amazing! Even better that all of a sudden you are listening to 'Into the Light', this is one of those track-changes that I found more difficult to notice. But well, before the first minute the keyboards take leadership and then bass and drums join, later vocals and together create a track that reminded me of Marillion, but well, without being Marillion of course, because the sound of Comedy of Errors is actually unique.

'Above the Hills' is a beautiful progressive rock composition, the sound is very symphonic and classical again, and the feeling is just cute, wonderful, like you have to smile every time you listen to it. When this track finishes, the sound disappears for the very first time, I mean, you can actually notice when a song finishes. But there is a bit more to come. The epilogue, entitled 'This Is How It Has To Be' is a great instrumental song that has that sensation of goodbye, and I think it is an excellent way to close this wonderful album.

There is an extra track, 'Spirit' which is marked as the single of the album.

Well, Comedy of Errors did it again, and am very happy to review it and tell to the world this band has created a wonderful album, once again. My final grade, 4.5 out of 5.

Enjoy it!

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