Pure Reason Revolution
Cautionary Tales for the Brave

THE REVIEW

The modern meaning of the word progressive as a musical style/attitude today is certainly even more complex to analyze compared to its meaning in the '70s.
If in the seventies prog was a perfect term to harness in a definition King Crimson, Genesis, Area, and all those who were part of that flourishing musical/cultural movement, today perhaps this word has changed along with the technology that has always supported it.

In short, progressive did not stop in those years; it would have made no sense if the music of evolution had decided to conclude its journey. Today we speak of neo-prog, post-prog, prog-metal, trying to find a new word to catalog the stylistic change of a genre that should never have been a genre, but certainly, it cannot be said that the odd music has grown tired of astonishing.

The Pure Reason Revolution (I can't see Immanuel Kant nodding his head to the beat while watching the beautiful Chloe Alper from beneath the stage) is an English quartet today that has never heard of closed-mindedness. Otherwise, how would you explain Beach Boys-like harmonies over a bed of synthesizers and heavy metal riffs?

They draw heavily from all the musical movements that in the last 50 years have given life to rock in all its forms and add their own energetic imprint like never before.

This EP, from which some of the songs that later became part of the LP were taken, deserves some words if only for the three tracks that make it up that did not end on the debut album "The Dark Third". These are "In Aurelia", "Arrival-The Intention Craft", and "Nimos and Tambos", which even when taken individually possess an enviable dose of personality.

The first part is compact, bass, drums, and electronic effects in the foreground, up to the chorus, sung in three voices and impossible to remove from your head. The voice of Jon Courtney blends perfectly with the passionate one of singer/bassist Chloe Alper, and the harmonies of Jamie Wilcox are the perfect counterpoint to the energy unleashed by the guitars. A complex structure, made of accelerated parts and delicate moments at the feet of a piano always ready to give way to the almost funky rhythm that seems unwilling to exit the stage.

The album continues with "The Bright Ambassador of Morning", a song that became part of the nine on the LP, 12 minutes of emotional ups and downs ranging from dreamy psychedelia filled with electronic effects to moments of pure, blood-pumping hard rock. It continues with "Arrival- The Intention Craft", a single from which a video was also extracted. The ingredients are the same, but here immediacy reigns, the complexity of the structure gives way to an effective and powerful riff, and the chorus highlights the beautiful voice of the girl in the group always accompanied by Jon Courtney and a soundscape full of electronics and keyboards in evidence. The idea of breaking the bridge from the chorus is also nice, a choice that captures even the most distracted ear. Another song then inserted in the album "The Dark Third" is "He Tried to Show Them Magic- Ambassadors Return" where once again the intersections between the two voices and the harmonies of guitarist Jamie Wilcox, which worthily replace the electronics that these guys never abuse in their compositions, dominate.

"Nimos and Tambos" is instead less than 4 minutes, but it's enough to explain to those who still haven't realized it all the potential of PRR, usual interwoven harmonies perfectly executed, scratchy guitars, and the right dose of boldness. The EP ends with "Apprentice of the Universe", which later became one of the jewels of "The Dark Third"; a progression that keeps the listener glued until the explosion of the final chorus, no trivial filler, and the usual energy charge.

The remastered version of the album also contains 3 tracks recorded in an acoustic version "The Intention Craft", "Nimos and Tambos", and "Apprentice of the Universe", a guise that does not clash with the beauty and freshness of the compositions, on the contrary, it enriches them with a more intimate feel and further highlights the always perfect vocal blends.

In conclusion, a great album for anyone looking for something capable of astonishing without drifting into unrestrained experimentation and musical projects without rhyme or reason.

Comparable, if you will, to the current defined as neo-prog, close to Mew, Oceansize, and Amplifier, but with a character that calling distinctive is an understatement. Enjoy listening, everyone!