What can one say about a new album from The Tangent? That's what's been going through my mind these past few hours, as I've listened again to this, their 11th official studio album.
Well, it's The Tangent, so that (for me at least) means that there's going to be musical virtuosity throughout; that it's going to be music rooted in the Progressive tradition yet drawing on other genres to produce their own inimitable yet distinctive style; that it's going to be entertaining, that it will put a huge smile on my face, and that, at times, it will make me think and even stop and take a good look at myself.
Once again graced by stunning artwork by Ed Unitsky, the album opens with 'Life on Hold', an apt title during a time of global lockdown, but not really about that. It's a quite up-beat opener, almost pop-y in feel, yet, as this is The Tangent, it's pop with Sartre! There's quite a funky edge to the song, and the rhythm section of Jonas Reingold & Steve Roberts hold the song together throughout.
Andy Tillison has a wonderful knack for telling stories, and this is illustrated so well in the 'Lost in...' series of songs. After two trips to London and one to Paris, he now finds himself 'Jinxed in Jersey' as he relates his adventures trying to visit the Statue of Liberty on foot, starting on 'the wrong side of the bay'. Trying to do anything on foot in the States is problematic as I discovered when I visited there in 2016 - the USA is not built for pedestrians! - and Andy's narrative takes us through the streets of New Jersey very evocatively, with cultural references from TV, music etc, overlaid by a distinctly jazzy vibe and some exquisite textures to the music and some stunning shredding from Luke Machin on guitar.
'Under Your Spell' is quite captivating: my first thoughts on hearing it was Tangent meets Mowtown. It is a smooth, soulful love song, but without the cliches, with Andy's keys underpinned by some moving and expressive guitars and sax.
So, this Progressive Rock album has had funk, jazz, Mowtown, and now, with 'Tower of Babel' we have almost dance music! Dance music with a rocky edge, which takes a pop at our online life and the 'bullshit bingo' that gets played every day in our corporate lives (says he who hasn't worked in an office for over 35 years!).
Of course, it IS a Progressive Rock album, and now comes 'the epic'. I suppose technically 'Jinxed...' was an epic too, clocking in at almost 16 minutes, so this is the epic epic! Andy has never fought shy of nailing his political colours to the mast, notably in 'A Few Steps Down The Wrong Road', and there's even a hint of it in 'Jinxed...' but in 'Lie Back & Think Of England' they are, as one would expect, there - though not, to my mind, offensively in your face. As befits a 28-minute song, this is quite thoughtful political analysis. There are echoes, not only in the length but in the sentiments, of 'In Earnest', and the rose garden verse has me finding something in my eye every time I hear it. Musically varied, from quiet pastoral piano to angry rock band, this is a song that took me some time for it to 'click' - there's very few whistle-along hooks (if you know what I mean), but sticking with it paid off. (I remember feeling the same way about their last album, 'Proxy' - maybe I'm just a bit thick...)
After this intensity, 'Midas Touch' provides just the lift one needs, and the sing-along chorus too! 'Proxima' - billed as a bonus track - is a piece of electronica somewhat akin to the stuff Andy released as Kalman Filter, a piece that builds nicely and draws things to a fitting climax.
To my mind this album continues the fine tradition of the band, and underlines their status as one of the foremost ensembles in the current Progressive 'scene'.
