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As a 40 something prog rock geek, this album is designed
for me! If you get the deluxe version with novella (and you
need to get that), then there is so much here that speaks
volumes to someone of my age and who grew up with the likes
of Yes, Genesis and ELP.
The three previous Tangent albums have been very good
indeed, but this latest outing (and a double CD to boot) is
something quite special indeed. I have lived with this album
for about a week and I mean lived with it. There is so much
that resonates with my own life experience. Good to have someone
writing from my vantage point on life's rocky road.
Whereas the last album "A Place in The Queue" used Yes's
Tales from Topographgic Oceans as a template, I think on this
latest he has used Peter Hammill's "Over" as a starting point
as Andy deals in the lengthy and highly personal "The Full
Gamut" with the break-up with long time partner Sam Baine.
But the mood of the issues dealt with on that track seem to
permeate the whole album. Take the opening track "A Life In
Mid Crisis", actually quite a jaunty track, with it's opening
80's styled synth lines. This track is maybe an update on
Hammill's "Pushing Thirty", here Andy deals with, well it's
all in the title really. Another personal song is "Lost In
London (25 Years Later)", a further chapter of Andy's experiences
in the capital, the first of which appeared in "A Place In
The Queue". As always, Andy's observations are amusing and
poignant, sometimes at the same time. The other epic track,
"Four Egos, One War" was a track originally written for Andy's
previous band Parallel Or 90 Degrees (PO90).
I am so glad he has unearthed it for this album as it
is a definite highlight. A wonderfully arranged piece, with
excellent vocals by Julie King. Thinking about it I believe
as The Tangent progress, they seem to be getting back to the
roots of PO90! The musicianship throughout is exemplary. The
rhythm team of bassist Jonas Reingold and drummer Jaime Salazar
is dynamite. Special mention to new guy Jakko M Jakszyk, who
lends his excellent vocals and quitar playing to the proceedings.
Just listen to his solo on "A Crisis In midlife", fluid and
very expressive.
This is an exceptional album. Personal, funny, intelligent,
poignant and full of great, great musical highlights. To date
this is the bands and in particular Andy Tillison's greatest
achievement. Modern prog rock doesn't get any better than
this!
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