NIGHTINGALE HALL

Paul Nash and John Blake have been friends since their schools days and the idea of coming up with a band and their own compositions was circulating since late-70's.However this project got late some 30 years, when Blake, Nash and Nash'es life partner Alison Felstead eventually formed Lyrian in Oxfordshire, UK in 2006.It took not very long for Lyrian to compose some new and fresh material along with some re-worked lyrics and music from Nash/Blake's early days that resulted to the first album ''Nightingale Hall'', released on their own Medieval Records.

This is a concept work, that deals with the story of a country house, from its erection till' its fire distruction.Musically the band shows some love for the early GENESIS days, when both symphonic and folk elements were major part of their music.So what the listener should expect from ''Nightingale Hall'' is some well-crafted musicianship, which switches from light Symphonic Rock to acoustic British Folk with careful structures and a dreamy atmosphere.Four out of the eight compositions are over 10 minutes long and they are exactly fitting the above description.Lyrian offer a good blend of acoustic textures with a bit too melodramatic still very clear vocals along with symphonic organ-arrangements and nice electric guitar work in the vein of HACKETT and LATIMER.It is always great to see a new band alternating between mellow, romantic parts to long dramatic instrumentals with some grandiose keyboard work with such comfort.Throughout the album Lyrian manage to create a very fairytale-atmosphere, very close to the concept, what is not among the positives are only a few overstretched ideas and the sound of drums, which seems like they have been programmed.

Attractive blend of modern Symphonic and Folk Rock by a band I trully consider talented.Keep an eye on Lyrian, meanwhile their debut remains a recommended release, especially if you like atmospheric prog adventures with both softer and richer moments.