RADIO SILENCE

"Illegitimis non Carborundum"

Beneath the savvy musicianship, the polished production, the progressive-pop sensibilities, the world-weary lyrics, there's a strong call to action to resist the machine, to take a stand, to hold one's ground, and "don't let the bastards grind you down".

That's what I hear on this sophomore release- "Radio Silence"- from British quartet RAIN- and it's an understated floor stomper to boot.

No Wasted Moves

The listener isn't immediately struck with mind-bending histrionic musicianship- although if one pays attention, the musicianship is mind-bending...just subtly so. Nor does RAIN labor to play harder/faster/heavier/more rapidly than the next New Thing in progressive rock.

Rather, we hear sinuous harmonies and insouciant, world-weary lyrics voiced by outstanding clean vocalists, chanting background voices, a strong melodic sense in the voices and instruments, tasteful keyboards providing some solo work as well as much atmospheric fullness, a more-than-rock solid rhythm section by two seasoned and well-matched players, and some frequently layered, inventive, guitar work, ranging from clean acoustic playing- like in the raging closer "Fear In the Night", to full on power chords chugging.

Working As a Unit

That is to say, on this album RAIN works as a unit to present this inspired album. It's hard to say who is the star, since the whole is greater than the sum of its parts- so I guess that answers the question.

Working as a unit, the nine tracks here- ranging from the brief opener "Genau" and its partner later in the album, "Winter Sun", to the full-on near-epics like "Solid State" (one of my favorite tracks) and "Bring it Back" we hear RAIN working as one, with novel textures, multiple vocal configurations, hushed- to intense and raging-toned progressive music on a mission.

And the Mission?

It seems to me RAIN is challenging the lonely, sometimes desperate individual to stand strong, to claim one's heritage, to exert the spirit and creativity that so often the machine seeks to crush. The mission is to show us that with their own sense of collective energy, we can see and hear and experience one of the ways individuals can stand as one and thrive.

My Conclusions

An excellent addition to any progressive rock music collection- a hardy, meticulously constructed and performed, thoughtful work set in crystalline production, immaculately done. 4 out of 5 understated gems.

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