Having released their CD "Blue God and Other Stories" in December, The Mighty Bard has graciously asked me to review it here in the Concert Closet...of course I was quite flattered and eagerly agreed. The Mighty Bard has been making fantastic prog for over a decade and being privy to their ascent in the genre is a bit special for me. I always knew the UK was fertile ground for great progressive music, so let us take a quick jaunt to High Wycombe and check out the sounds of The Mighty Bard.
I believe it is best to start at the beginning of the disc and build a mood...much the way I approach the prog buffet each week. The Mighty Bard are storytellers from the emotional side of the tracks, and I found that listening repeatedly to this disc opened new windows in the frontal and limbic lobes of my brain...but enough biology--let's get this prog feast started!
The CD opens with a "tech-savvy" intro called "Before..." and I immediately get the feeling this will be an affecting disc, with mood swings and tempo changes sure to hit the "thrill" and "thought" buttons in those earlier mentioned lobes...The guitar work is tight and crisp while the drums fill the spaces in between like so much insulation. There are strong top notes of The Alan Parsons Project, The Tangent, and 10cc emanating through my headphones...aaahhh yes, it is good to be "home..."
The fade out from "Before..." as the laser starts to dig into track number two, "Blue God," is as smooth as chocolate melting on your tongue...at first play through I almost missed the changeover. Gavin's vocals weave through the air like a warm knife cutting through butter, and everybody behind him nails their role perfectly. The keyboards flow like champagne at a victory celebration, while once again strong guitar hacks to the bone--but at just the right depth. Andy's drumming has the ability to hold the entire piece up like a trophy on display. The Mighty Bard have not missed a step since my last visit. Sit back and let this piece wash over you a few times; the passion hits you repeatedly but you know you want more...
Liner Notes...Hailing from the aforementioned town of High Wycombe in England, The Mighty Bard remains founders Neil Cockle on keyboards and Dave Clarke on guitars, joined by Mark Cadman on bass, Mark Parker on violin and backing vocals, and Gavin Webb singing lead. The only personnel change since our last visit is Andy Dovey sitting behind the drum kit.
Moving back to the music, track seven is a thought provoking piece called "Placidity." The opening speaks to the title as it flows delicately through the headphones, gently piercing the veil of my auditory canals. Not so much a dark piece, but sadness and melancholy do drip off the edges like honey from the comb. The Mighty Bard has a remarkable talent for digging deep into a story without getting lost in the periphery...they cut right to the heart. You don't just sense a loss--you feel it. Yet along with the despair and darkness there always seems to be a ray of hope...a thin shaft of light...
This glimmer of a chance bleeds through to the next song, a more haunting piece called "I Know." There is a poignant, somewhat evocative tone riding shotgun over the top of this tune...you can almost feel something tangible in the darkness here; a sense of loss deep and strong enough to pull you in if you are not careful. The Mighty Bard carves through flesh and cartilage like a skilled surgeon...leaving no marks but for the emotional scars on the soul. Buy this disc, clear your head, sit back, and ponder the possibilities...learn more about the Mighty Bard and purchase the "Blue God and Other Stories" CD at http://themightybard.bandcamp.com/. The Mighty Bard can also be found on Twitter, @TheMightyBard and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheMightyBard. While you're surfing, check their website, http://www.themightybard.com/.
I posted below one of my favorite cuts from this release, "Heart of the Strangelove." The keyboards bring you into the 21st century, but the lifeblood of this song--the hallmark of The Mighty Bard--is good old-fashion story telling. Gavin sets a layer of velvety smooth vocals across tightly assembled guitars, keyboards, and drums, and just like maple syrup poured over grandma's pancakes on a cold Sunday morning, you'll want to savor this for a while...
As winter winds down ever so stubbornly into a spring filled with hope and promise, so to does my search continue for all things prog. The Mighty Bard has put together a truly great release and I hope that resonates through this review. There is an often under-appreciated strength in the ability to tell a story--a deep, gut-wrenching story--put to music. The Mighty Bard grabs all the strings and weaves them together like a soft Persian rug underfoot; you appreciate it every time you come in contact with it.
My search for all things prog has led to many a great discovery; The Mighty Bard being just one of the gems. But now the time has come for The Concert Closet to be refueled and re-stocked in preparation for another leg in what has become an astonishing journey. Please check out The Mighty Bard and their music...then get ready to follow along in my continued search for all things prog. Time to set the GPS for a new landing spot--outside the UK...until next week...
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