RETURN TO ARDA

DAVE BRONS is a British guitarist who has earned some respect in recent years for his ability to conjure up progressive Celtic tinged symphonic soundscapes of cinematic proportions with the intent to let the listener get lost in alternative soundtracks for the Lord of the Rings films. After placing in the top 10 of PROG magazine in 2021 in the Unsigned Artist Category, BRONS has gained a lot more attention with his third release RETURN TO ARDA, Arda being the name J.R.R. Tolkien gave to our very own Earth. Knowledge of the Lord of the Rings universe isn't a requirement due to the fact that the album is mostly instrumental but the physical form of the RETURN TO ARDA offers detailed liner notes and guides to aid the uninitiated to step into the world of Orks, Hobbits and Elves.

Somewhat of a classical crossover album, BRONS plays guitars, mandolin and keyboards. Eight other musicians are on board to offer their services on mandolin, bass, guitar, keys, whistles, piano, drums, orchestration, uileann pipes, saxophone, flute, cello, French horns and trombones. The album opens with spoken word narrative on "The Primordial Chord" and appears periodically throughout the album but the primary vocalist but for the most part this is an instrumental journey with sweeping symphonic soundscapes is the divine Sally Minnear. There is also the occasional Irish jig inspired track, "Joy Beyond The Walls Of The World" and guitar rock moments that offer a bit of soloing action. Although BRONS is claimed to be able to shred like Steve Vai, nothing on RETURN TO ARDA indicates that level of technical accomplishment.

The album is broken down into three parts: Sea, Soil and Sky, each of which has four tracks except Sky which apparently warrants a fifth. The most amazing part of this album is how beautiful the tones are. The impeccable production allows the subtlest sounds to resonate a millionfold and the secret of RETURN TO ARDA is to keep things simple and manageable and let a little reverberate into a lot. I think of Mike Oldfield when listening to this for some reason. Not "Tubular Bells" but the more ethereal new age album "The Songs Of Distant Earth," not that the music itself is comparable but the moods and intricacies in the way sounds slowly ooze together. Tracks like "The Tears Of Nienna" are very ethereal, offering oscillating key stabs as the rhythm section while Celtic tinged flute sounds wail from over yonder, a clear tribute to Mr Oldfield's classic use of reverb, rhythmic looping and over the top cinematic lushness.

On the one hand, RETURN TO ARDA is fairly flawless in its execution 15 well designed Celtic inspired prog tracks in the vein of Mike Oldfield's best work however at the same time i really don't feel the Lord of the Rings vibe at all. While Tolkien themes are most readily adopted by sci-fi addicted extreme metal bands, for a cinematic symphonic prog band i would expect more variation through a journey so varied and complex as the famous Tolkien trilogy. The album seems to exist in the nice cuddly placidity of the Hobbits homeland and eschews any of the turbulent conflicts that punctuated Sam and Frodo's peregrination into the darkness. I mean Lord of the Rings certainly employed some Celtic flavors but was hardly 100% dependent on them therefore the entire Tolkien connection seems aloof and impossible to grasp. The tale would be more believe if it were covering the Irish mythological tale of "Acallam na Senórach" or something similar.

What i think of most with this album (for the most part with the instrumental parts) is really excellent modern video game music that musters up cinematic quality soundtracks for modern virtual reality gaming systems. Thematically this just doesn't work for me as the music doesn't relate to the larger emotional spectrum that Tolkien presented. Musically this is much better and holds together fairly well but some of the rockers like "Beauty and Starlight" seem clunky as ARDA is much better as a symphonic composer than a prog rocker. Although i really do not find this to be a perfect album, i have to say that it is quite excellently produced and crafted and a compelling listen despite clocking in just shy of 65 minutes.