PURE REASON REVOLUTION: Coming Up To Consciousness (PROGRESSIVE ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

Resuming a regular release rhythm since the beginning of this decade, Pure Reason Revolution presents itself without Chloë Alper who, after having forfeited her first appearance on the tour that followed the release of “Above Circus” due in part to her work but also to her involvement with James, is this time absent from the band's line-up, and replaced as on previous shows by Annicke Shireen. Another notable arrival is Guy Pratt on bass, an eminent musician whose pedigree we won't bother to mention here, while Bruce Soord and his sidekick Jon Sykes (Pineapple Thief) also add their coloring to the ensemble.

With this new opus, the band explores a very personal part of its leader's life, initiated by the loss of his faithful four-legged companion, opening the way to a wider introspective reflection on the notion of disappearance. Musically, “Coming Up to Consciousness” is built around eight main tracks, accompanied by five very short interludes designed to bring coherence and cohesion to a work that is, if not conceptual, at least homogeneous.

And homogeneity is indeed what distinguishes this new production, with coherent ambiences from start to finish, initiated by the typical Floydian coloration that opens the proceedings of 'Dig Till you Die', before giving way to jazzy effluvia, a magnificent singing bass and a first chorus that was and remains the band's trademark, a chorus that we find again and again, most notably in the rousing finale offered by 'As We Disappear'.

The vocals of Jon Courtney and Annicke Shireen blend wonderfully, whether alternating as lead, duet or chorus ('The Gallows'), regularly giving way to the often haunting instrumental sections, particularly when they develop an assertive soaring side. But beyond Jon Courtney's obvious affinity with David Gilmour, a few guitar riffs encroach on The Edge's territory ('Worship'), or can be quite cutting ('Useless Animal' and 'Worship', with their strong Porcupine Tree overtones). The whole is supported by an excellent rhythm section, featuring our reference bassist and his limpid, precise playing, as well as a gala Ravi Kesavaram behind the drums.

After 42 minutes swallowed in one go, the delighted listener can only conclude that Pure Reason Revolution has just offered a formidable progressive rock album, in the noblest sense of the term, happily assuming the heritage of the great ancients while illuminating the whole with a confounding modernity. Could “Coming Up to Consciousness” be the band's best album to date? The debate is wide open. - Official website

PURE REASON REVOLUTION

COMING UP TO CONSCIOUSNESS

INSIDEOUT MUSIC

PROGRESSIVE ROCK