Rush
Permanent Waves

Permanent Waves, an album that went down in history as one of the trio's most successful platters thanks to the hit "The Spirit Of Radio," a piece that soon proved to be just a prelude to a handful of tracks of decidedly superior caliber compared to what could be expected from any other hard trio of the time. Making progressive rock as a trio at the time was indeed a daunting task, but our Canadians already with the two previous albums (A Farewell To Kings and Hemispheres) had shown that they could break this taboo in an unprecedented and original way, maintaining until then the marked "hard rock" characteristics of the first 4 albums. This Permanent Waves continues the progressive discourse in the best possible way, with the group once again demonstrating their ability to evolve their sound, doing away with some of the hard flurries always present before and incorporating melodies and layers of synth.

-"The Spirit Of Radio": ok, beyond the great commercial success, I think this track is the icon of Rush's thought, namely the combination of typically progressive expressions and truly fascinating and particularly accessible melodies. This track multiplies these two factors considerably, and we get a hugely successful hit. Great start.
-"Freewill": now the prog component takes over, but the formula doesn't deviate much from that of the previous track. I would say it is clear at this point that Rush are creating something new, in line with the new trends of the early '80s. Ok, the rock roots are still very much in evidence, but certain sounds also make this piece remarkably original.
-"Jacob's Ladder": if "Freewill" hints at new horizons, this track takes the plunge. This is the new progressive. Geddy's voice drops significantly in register, growing in warmth and interpretation in my opinion, the rhythm is in constant evolution towards different solutions but we always remain on "slow" times until the last two more lively minutes, the keyboards begin to seriously duet with Alex's guitar, rising above the previous "filling" role. The sounds are darker than ever, creating a striking contrast with the keyboard-driven middle part of the track, which is truly evocative and dreamy. This track enjoys disarming homogeneity and organicity when we consider how varied it is in both rhythm and harmony.
-"Entre Nous": A less demanding and shorter piece than the previous one. The game continues with keyboards but without excess, and Alex enjoys as never before altering great expansive arpeggiated parts with riffs of brilliant rhythm. The keyboard and guitar solo is emblematic of what has already been said for the previous tracks, extraordinary the skill of Rush in skilfully manipulating different sounds within the same track. And in this, the keyboards play a fundamental role by opening doors to new solutions.
-"Different Strings": We come to the "ballad" of the album. Decidedly melancholy atmospheres, Geddy's voice remains on lower registers compared to the past, more than ever a moving interpretation. The insertion of a piano sets the stage for the track to achieve its objective... to move the listener. Of course, Rush remain skilled even as a stripped-down trio, the finale is proof of it, in this context Alex's guitar is played with truly exceptional taste!
-"Natural Science": finally, the suite of the album arrives. It's the natural continuation of the discourse begun with Jacob's Ladder. Time changes galore, Geddy and Neil weave lively, immediate but at the same time decidedly complex rhythms. On this solid base, Alex manages, this time without tangible assistance from the keyboards, to keep in excellent step with his bandmates, confirming his rhythmic skills, a truly complete artist. The two solos remain something immense not only for technique but also for taste and appropriateness... truly two pearls.

Ultimately, an album that serves as a bridge towards the new vision of progressive according to Rush. A bridge towards a new stylistic breakthrough, therefore, a bridge with foundations evidently rooted in the experiences of past albums but which shines quietly with its own and new light... It can undoubtedly be considered one of the highest points of our trio's career!