Darn you, now everyone knows that my weak point is hugs from the opposite sex!!
Time for a review of an album I've been digging for awhile-
The Tangent - The Music That Died Alone (2003)
Track Listing
1. In Darkest Dreams (20:06)
2. The Canterbury Sequence (8:06)
3. Up Hill From Here (7:08)
4. The Music That Died Alone (12:45)
So, what happens when you put saxophone god David Jackson from VDGG together with guitarist Roine Stolt and bassist Jonas Reingold of Flower Kings fame? Furthermore, what happens when symphonic prog, funk, jazz, electronica and the Canterbury Scene all get mashed together into a tasty brew that actually ends up tasting really, really freakin' good?
Ladies and gents, please give a round of applause to The Tangent, who with this debut manage to all of this and more with spades.
Thematically, this debut doesn't really cover any new ground that other bands and artists haven't treaded upon before. Nostalgia for past decades, the nature of memory, the spirit of human indecision, etc etc. What we DO hear here that is so hard to come by in modern day prog., though, is a willingness to do other things besides pretending to be another Genesis or Yes. Each track on this debut is a lengthy execution is a different style while retaining a core sound, and the result is great indeed: 'In Darkest Dreams' is the symphonic suite and album opener, sax and guitar taking center stage, while 'The Canterbury Sequence' (my favorite!!) shifts into a unique but very nostalgic sonic recreation of Caravan circa 1971 and Hatfield in terms of style, with verrrrrry jazzy flute and vocal harmonization emphasized. And seriously, how many bands these days even TRY to sound Canterburyish, much less recreate the mood? Wonderful song!!
/gushing off
Anyway...the album's second half has its own share of surprises too. 'Uphill From Here' pulses heavy from the very start, held afloat from below by the sorta electronica vibes you'd expect at a local club. Not bad at all But when we come to the 'title track', we are in for something that sounds like a culmination of the last 3 tracks approaches, but isn't. Its a tour-de-force, morphing itself several times in between the fuzzy sax and piano interludes, excusing itself in ways the rest of the album didn't, ending on a blurry, tranquil note, with flute and piano and electric wahwahs reminiscent of
Close to the Edge bidding farawell into the silence and you go "Wow! That was pretty good!"
Review out of the way, I have a few other thoughts in regards to why I consider this worthy of acclaim. I still get surprised every once in awhile, but given my love of Canterbury and jazz-related music, an album like this strikes as especially appealing compared to a lot I hear, because it draws you in with a sound that you just don't really get anymore in most European or American prog. bands. My opinion is that while other outfits stick to their symphonic guns and perform in their niche with overrated virtosity, the kind of jazz-lounge feel you get when listening to The Tangent seems rediculously novel compared to, say, Spock's Beard, Dream Theater or Transatlantic who get praised to high heaven for doing nothing new or even remotely engaging. And don't even get me started on groups like Mostly Autumn or Arena...
Overall, a highly recommended debut from a distinguished group too frequently overlooked by modern day prog. enthusiasts who think The Mars Volta is the only good thing out there. Eat socks!!!
Album Verdict: 6/7
Oh yes, here is one of their rare live performances (the track is from A Place in the Queue, not this album). Enjoy!