Member:
Whitebeard
Date:
10/14/2007
Following hot on the heals of his debut release The Presence, Ian Bartlett’s second album Psychles is another trip into a strange and compelling musical world of post progressive neo-gothic soundscapes that marks a natural progression from the earlier release in both performance and production. Once again this album is a true solo work. Ian writes, performs and produces everything on offer here and once again we find an album that just drips raw emotion and cries with the bitterest tears of experience.
However there are some noticeable differences between Psychles and The Prescence. First of we have the production. Still using the same home based eight track set as before on this album we see a man who has began to truly master the low-fi approach which give his work his distinctive sound. The general mix is clearer and more considered than on the earlier release, the instrumentation shows a more thoughtful approach and the subtle use of drum loops gives the whole album a depth that The Presence only hinted at.
Once again true prog rockers should spot Ian’s influences with ease: Camel, Marillion, Van der Graaf Generator, Yes... elements of all these and more are tastefully plucked and blended into the unique sound that he is rapidly coming to make his own. Right from the first track, “Lair Of The Succubus” with is menacing lyric and dark 'Andy Latimer meets Bauhaus' backing this album paints some wonderful sound pictures that draw the listener into Ian's very own world of sonic experimentation that is pure ear candy to listen to. We get the Hawkwindesque slice of audio assassination that is “The Mirror Trip”*, the uplifting exploration of “The Spirit Of Christmas” and the growling head-trip that is “Disastral”.
However this album saves the very best to last. “The Cycle Of Re Occurrence” is an epic in every sense of the word. Coming in at a hefty 41 minutes 37 seconds, this track is not so much a some but a prog-rock tone poem that is not only hellishly ambitious in approach, but mindblowing in it's realisation. Blending Keith Emerson style keyboard playing with some delicious Steve Rothery like guitar work, “The Cycle...” is an instrumental dream made reality, and it best experienced in a darked room late at night with a little of your favorite relaxant.
Inconclusion, Psychles is a worthy addition to the CD collection of anyone who has an ear for good prog and a must hear for anyone who enjoyed Ian's debut The Prescence.
(*Note- on some early promo copies of this album the track “The Mirror Trip” is replaced with a track entitled “The Twelfth Dream”.)
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