THE HAZARDS OF LOVE

The Decemberists on the surface don't sound like a prog band; more of a folk rock band with heavy alternative and indie rock influences. Their songs are self-reliant on delicate acoustic licks, catchy melodies, colourful, descriptive lyrics and the occasional rock outburst. Where's the prog, you ask?

HAZARDS OF LOVE is a seventeen-track album that really doesn't function like an album made of multiple songs. Even if I can't figure out what goes on lyrically, I can smell the conceptualness musically. The reoccurrence of themes and ideas is here, notably in the tracks titled ''Hazards of Love'' (Parts 3 seems to recycle Part 1 themes) and ''The Wanting Comes in Waves''. The progness lies there.

Colin Meloy has not the most impressive voice ever, but he has this quirk that makes his voice enjoyable. The guest vocalists don't make much of an impression on this reviewer as both are too ordinary sounding. Although typical rock band instruments are used, the employment of hammered dulcimers, accordions, hurdy-gurdies and bouzoukis give HAZARDS OF LOVE a certain charm.

With the way that the album flows and revitalises themes, I say this is a pretty good prog album and one of the better ones of recent times. This isn't a bad album to acquire if you want prog folk outside of Jethro Tull.