THE CHRONICLE OF STOLEN SOULS

Freedom To Glide is a musical duo that consists of Andy Nixon (vocals, guitars, bass and keyboards) and Pete Riley (piano, synthesizers and organ), this is their fourth effort, and my first musical encounter with this duo. Band info: "Our fourth album release The Chronicle Of Stolen Souls has actually replaced this year's intended album release due to the unfolding world events of 2022, not least the war in Ukraine. The current political language is reminiscent of what we thought to be a bygone era of power politics and serves as a frightening reminder of the worst situations of the last century. We can only hope for peace, not a peace that is forced upon the loser but a peace without victory."

What a wonderful, pretty laidback music, the nine songs (between 2 and 7 minutes) often deliver dreamy climates and slow rhythms, the focus is on Andy Nixon his intense vocals, tender and often with a melancholical undertone, embellished with moving guitar soli.

My highlights.

Stolen Souls : The first part contains an atmospheric climate with dreamy vocals and piano, then a slow rhythm., halfway culminating in a sensitive electric guitar solo with howling runs.

The War Cannot Be Won : This track has been built-up beautifully, from dreamy to a slow rhtyhm, with tender vocals, then a break with delicate Mellotron cello and twanging acoustic guitar, bass runs and a warm acoustic guitar solo, finally another moving guitar solo (Gilmour inspired), wow.

Peace Without Victory 06:52 : This is my absolute highlight, it starts dreamy with piano and acoustic guitar, tender vocals, halfway breathtaking interplay between Mellotron violins, piano and drums, goose bumps, then an intense electric guitar solo, and finally again that wonderful interplay between Mellotron violins, piano and drums, I love it.

The Chronicle Of Stolen Souls (Epilogue) : The titletrack opens with a melancholical violin sound and bombastic orchestrations, then tender piano and vocals join, followed by a howling electric guitar solo in slow rhythm. The second part features a dreamy climate with tender piano, and a melancholical undertone.

Highly recomenmded!