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░ ██ ██ Artist: The Tangent ██ ██
▓ █░░ ■█ Album: The Slow Rust of Forgotten Machinery █■ ░░█
■ █▓▀ █ Year: 2017 █ ▀▓█ ░
█ ▓ Rel. Date: 2017-11-10 ▓ █
▒ ▒ Genre: Progressive Rock ▒ ▒
█▄ ░ Label: Inside Out Music / Sony Music ░ ▄█
░ █▄ ░ Source: CD ░ ▄█
░ █▓ Type: Album ▓█ ░
▓ █ Quality: VBR, 44.1kHz, Joint Stereo █ ░ ▓
▓ █ █ ░ ▓
▄ ■ ■ ▓ ■
░█ █░ ▀
█ Back then the Canterbury homage 'The Music That █
█ Died Alone' hit me like lightning, I also thought █
█ 'COMM' to be another very recommended album, and █
█ now this one convinces right from the first █
█ listening session. When recovering from a heart █
█ attack in 2015 Andy Tillison's songwriting efforts █
█ understandably took a backseat for a while. But as █
█ somebody who's focussed on developing and playing █
█ sophisticated rock music as no other, he rebounded █
█ soon. And obviously felt challenged later on by █
█ the political development in Europe. Especially █
█ this Brexit affair, a quite exemplary result when █
█ some politicians, parties and even complete █
█ governments subtly and gradually are encouraging █
█ hate and nationalism. █
█ How not to repeat yourself after so much prolific █
█ albums since 2002? Firstly, this is a very █
█ political album, A Few Steps Down The Wrong Road █
█ marks a strong statement due to his recitative. █
█ This may not meet everybody's taste. But at least █
█ music-wise it's definitely a top-notch result, and █
█ very jazz drenched stuff right here again. █
█ Furthermore he's effectually flirting with other █
█ styles on his albums, for example be it the █
█ excellent Pink Floyd oriented 'Aftereugene'. █
█ Alternatively, on this occasion, it's definitely █
█ Basildonxit, which opens very Lounge/2Step █
█ drenched. Well, and he surprisingly even goes the █
█ extra mile now when, for what reason ever, dealing █
█ with the percussion duties. I'm not sure, be it █
█ acoustic, electronic or via keys most likely. █
█ Presumably a little of each. █
█ Apart from that Andy has some wellknown █
█ compagnions at his side, speaking of Theo Travis, █
█ Luke Machin and Jonas Reingold of course, my hero, █
█ when it comes to the bass guitar at least! As I'm █
█ not really fond of his work with the band █
█ Maschine, so much the more I adore Machin's █
█ contributions here, also being very present and █
█ virtuoso with a range from Gary Boyle to Santana █
█ and John Petrucci. If somebody is going to █
█ advertise a 2017 award for exceptional █
█ songwriting, here we have a strong aspirant █
█ waiting for. Another very personal statement, █
█ nothing to complain though, as this is always the █
█ fact, more or less. Groove, catchiness, █
█ complexity, sophistication, meaningfulness, █
█ experimentalism - all attributes will apply █
█ regarding this album. Is there any more of it? █
█ █
█ --- █
█ █
█ Since The Tangent's early days I've been fan of █
█ their music, they know how to create challenging █
█ music with lots of changes, instrumental and vocal █
█ passages, vertiginous moments and calm tracks, █
█ they also bring a rollercoaster of emotions that █
█ touches the symphonic, Canterbury an even heavy █
█ side of prog. Andy Tillison and co. are now back █
█ this 2017 with an extraordinary album that once █
█ again shows their inherent and endless talent, an █
█ ambitious 6-track release with 4 long epics and 2 █
█ short tracks that will make you have over an hour █
█ of great prog rock. I must say that I personally █
█ have a bit trouble with albums this long, I always █
█ prefer a length minus 50 minutes, but with The █
█ Tangent I can let that rule slip away. █
█ The album opens with "Two Rope Swings" which has a █
█ delicate sound, sweet vocals and a beautiful █
█ piano. Little by little more instruments join, █
█ calm flute, acoustic guitar, soft bass and drums. █
█ The sound is really gentle, easy to dig and easy █
█ to make you feel comfortable. Then at minute 2:30 █
█ keyboards appear so does the symphonic sound, so █
█ you have to be prepared to start a great journey █
█ and leave The Tangent guide you. "Doctor █
█ Livingstone (I Presume)" is the first (and █
█ shortest, by the way) epic of the album. The █
█ musicians have nothing to prove; we all know they █
█ are amazing, so in every single minute of the song █
█ (and album) we will feel satisfied. When asked █
█ what progressive rock is, I could easily play a █
█ The Tangent song, this instrumental one might be a █
█ great example, due to its great passages, the █
█ changes in time and mood, the use of symphonic, █
█ jazzy and classical elements, and much more. The █
█ song runs so gentle that in a blink of an eye it █
█ has already finished. The Canterbury-esque essence █
█ is provided here at its best. █
█ Man, what a long and amazing track "Slow Rust" is, █
█ Tillison, Reingold, Travis and co have done one █
█ hell of a track (and an album). Vocals return here █
█ in an incredible labyrinth of emotions, tricks and █
█ dungeons where our ears and soul will be trapped █
█ for over 20-minutes, and let me say that you will █
█ not wish to find the exit, you will happily accept █
█ the musical seclusion. Lush keyboards and great █
█ bass lines can be found here; it is like a TV █
█ series with its chapters, the music is changing █
█ and creating different passages that naturally █
█ match with its predecessor. There are no weak █
█ moments, of course there are ones I enjoy more but █
█ I cannot ask for more. "The Sad Story of Lead and █
█ Astatine" continues with these examples of █
█ challenging compositions full of a cascade of █
█ changes, textures and nuances. The work of Travis █
█ here is beautiful and of course, Reingold always █
█ (but really, always) create the best bass lines █
█ for what the music needs. █
█ "A Few Steps Down The Wrong Road" opens with a █
█ calm minute but then all of a sudden it explodes █
█ and becomes rockier and a bit heavier. The █
█ intensity increases and a sense of tension can be █
█ felt while a powerful symphonic sound surrounds █
█ us. As usual the song has different changes so we █
█ then listen to calm passages and minutes later it █
█ returns with more intensity. Great! The album █
█ finishes with "Basildonxit" which is the shortest █
█ composition here. As you can notice by my words, █
█ The Tangent has not let us down and I can actually █
█ say this this is my favorite release of their from █
█ this current decade, hands down. This last track █
█ is very different; it includes electronics sounds █
█ made by a DJ while keyboards work normally █
█ creating nuances. Then the symphonic explosion █
█ comes, strings, drums and keys work together in a █
█ wonderful work of art with some Floydian guitar, a █
█ jazzy funky sound and that great use of electronic █
█ background. A great way to finish a magnificent █
█ album! █
█ █
█ --- █
█ █
█ I did not see this one coming but I should have. █
█ THE TANGENT's previous album was the first one I █
█ gave less than 4 stars to but in the mean time █
█ Andy Tillison had a heart attack and I've said for █
█ years that tragedy or heart-break is the best █
█ thing to get the creative juices flowing in an █
█ artistic person. Should have seen this one coming. █
█ This is hands down the best THE TANGENT album I █
█ have heard to this point, and it's not close. What █
█ a lineup as well with Andy of course, Theo Travis █
█ on flute and sax, Luke Machin on lead guitar, █
█ Jonas Reingold who might be my favourite bass █
█ player, and Marie-Eve De Gaultier on keyboards and █
█ backing vocals. She basically has taken Sam's █
█ place I'd say and it's surprising how much her █
█ backing vocals add to the sound here. Everything █
█ is just perfect. █
█ The cover art was done by Marvel/DC Comics █
█ illustrator Mark Buckingham and it's outstanding █
█ like everything else here. This is a political █
█ album of epic proportions and for the first time █
█ in my life I'm putting a spoiler alert on one █
█ track called "A Few Steps Down The Wrong Road" █
█ with it's shocking ending. I liked how THE █
█ TANGENT's first two albums came to mind at times █
█ here. █
█ "Two Rope Swings" deals with the fate of wild █
█ animals in the 21st century lyrically. Piano, bass █
█ and laid back vocals to start along with female █
█ backing vocals. Flute and a beat join in after a █
█ minute as it slowly starts to build. It kicks in █
█ hard at 2 1/2 minutes. Huge bass lines here and █
█ Andy sings with passion. It settles back after 5 █
█ 1/2 minutes with piano and reserved vocals. █
█ "Doctor Livingston (I Presume)" is an absolute █
█ killer instrumental. It hits the ground running █
█ with prominent bass before a guitar solo arrives █
█ before a minute. So much going on though including █
█ organ and synths. It settles back before 2 minutes █
█ but kicks back in a minute later as contrasts █
█ continue. Sax around 3 1/2 minutes. Jazzy piano █
█ and drums a minute later followed by some massive █
█ bass lines and ripping guitar 5 minutes in. So █
█ good! Sounds like mellotron after 7 minutes then a █
█ calm with flute, atmosphere and more. it kicks in █
█ again around 9 1/2 minutes. Nice synth work a █
█ minute later. █
█ "Slow Rust" is 22 1/2 minutes long and it deals █
█ with a lot of current political topics. Organ to █
█ start as laid back vocals join in with backing █
█ female vocals. A fuller sound with synths follows █
█ a minute in, drums too. The dual vocals continue █
█ followed by bass and electronics. Lots of █
█ atmosphere as well. The bass kills here. The █
█ chorus arrives around 3 minutes and later before 5 █
█ 1/2 minutes with keys, bass and drums. Beautiful █
█ stuff. Love that guitar solo after 6 1/2 minutes. █
█ Vocals are back after 8 1/2 minutes with organ in █
█ this powerful section. Check out the driving █
█ rhythm section 10 1/2 minutes in. There's a "Roll █
█ The Bones"-like Rap section 12 minutes in. How █
█ blissful is the calm with flute, picked guitar and █
█ female vocal melodies. Love how Andy comes in █
█ vocally. It kicks in before 16 1/2 minutes with █
█ huge bass. Love the organ after 18minutes. The █
█ chorus is back after 20 minutes. █
█ "The Sad Story Of Lead And Astatine" with █
█ "Astatine" being a radioactive chemical element. █
█ Sad vocals and piano to start. It picks up1 1/2 █
█ minutes in with flute in this jazzy section as the █
█ vocals become more alive. Backing female vocals a █
█ minute later then it turns more powerful 3 1/2 █
█ minutes in with that amazing bass. Sax joins in █
█ before 4 minutes as the vocals step aside. Organ █
█ too and check out that bass around 7 minutes. Oh █
█ my! Lots of atmosphere then it kicks in hard. █
█ Check out all those intricate sounds before 8 █
█ minutes. The tempo picks up making this even more █
█ mind boggling. Drum solo after 9 minutes and I █
█ like it. It settles back with organ, piano and █
█ vocals. There's such a feel good vibe to the █
█ chorus 11 1/2 minutes in. Check out the guitar and █
█ bass 14 1/2 minutes in. █
█ "A Few Steps Down The Wrong Road" is where I have █
█ a spoiler alert. If your going to pick this album █
█ up don't even read this because my hair actually █
█ stood up when it was revealed late who this █
█ country was Andy is talking about. This song was █
█ brought about because of the refugee problems in █
█ the World these days, and Trump of course, and █
█ Brexit as many countries seem to fuelled these █
█ days by nationalism, greed and power. So Andy uses █
█ an example from the past but we don't know that █
█ until the end as I figured the country he was █
█ going at great lengths to describe was just a made █
█ up one. Instrumentally this is complex but also █
█ all over the place as it were but the narration █
█ from Andy was surprising throughout as it comes █
█ and goes to great affect. This is a 17 1/2 minute █
█ epic itself to close the album. █
█ Basically the country here in question reminisces █
█ about their glorious past and concludes that █
█ immigrants have a lot to do with their decline. So █
█ they vote in a party who will deal with that █
█ particular problem among others. Like I said █
█ earlier Andy goes to great lengths to describe the █
█ feelings and history of this nation and the █
█ reasonings for a change. They want to be great █
█ again. Sound familiar USA? So the scene is set up █
█ for us to where this party is elected and after 12 █
█ minutes the emotion of that event is stunning to █
█ say the least. Andy's vocals that follow couldn't █
█ be more moving and emotional. We are then taken to █
█ the newly elected political party's first official █
█ meeting as they discuss the issues they have to █
█ deal with. It's haunting here as the new leader █
█ tells his cabinet ministers that the immigration █
█ problem is his main priority and he turns to one █
█ of his senior officials and looking over his █
█ reading glasses he says "I think this one(the █
█ immigration problem) is seriously important and as █
█ such I would like you to handle it" as he looked █
█ over to Heinrich Himmler. Himmler responds "Jawohl █
█ mein Fuhrer leave it with me". █
█ This is jazzy and oh so proggy in several █
█ different ways. The lyrics really match the █
█ incredible musicianship here and it all makes this █
█ one of the best from 2017. It will be featured █
█ high on my list. █
▓ ▓
▒ ▒
░ 1. Two Rope Swings 6:30 ░
░ 2. Doctor Livingstone (I Presume) 11:58 ░
░ 3. Slow Rust 22:31 ░
░ 4. The Sad Story of Lead and Astatine 16:00 ░
░ 5. A Few Steps Down the Wrong Road 17:31 ░
░ 6. Basildonxit 5:21 ░
░ 79:51 ░
░ ▒ ▒
▓ █ ░ ▓ ░
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