Not exactly a "newbie" to the prog garden; this is The Tangent's ninth studio album for those scoring at home. Despite having reviewed the band just once, way back in 2013, I have been a fan ever since discovering their bounty in the prog garden. This is a band that redefines themselves with every new release and "The Slow Rust of Forgotten Machinery" is no exception. Despite a political slant, band leader/founder Andy Tillison takes world issues head-on...there is so much to enjoy and admire about this album. So let us step up to the buffet and dive right in...
First song on the carving block this week is "Dr. Livingstone (I Presume)." As the song opens you are immediately struck by the force that The Tangent brings...perhaps it is because of rather than in spite of this being their first new music in two years, but it feels like the magic is back. Top notes of old Tangent work their way through the headphones. While there is a distinction here from the band's previous output, there is no denying the obvious...much like the unmistakable taste of grandma's home cooking, there is something "comfortably familiar" happening here...
Next up on the platter is a cut that takes off in an entirely different direction, "The Sad Story of Lead and Astatine." Perhaps grandma took some cooking lessons from Anthony Bourdain; the atmosphere changed although the surroundings aren't intimidating. The piano work that rolls across the vocals is as smooth as ganache running down the sides of a chocolate torte...The Tangent manage to slap you awake with this cut despite the velvet gloves. Madness may be the new norm in society, but for many that change is unsettling. Andy Tillison walks a fine line between jazzy comfort and worrisome anxiety as the mood swings dark while the background haunts. A Marillion hue added to the paint on the canvas...
Liner Notes...The Tangent is of course led by Andy Tillison on vocals, keyboards, and drums--his sitting behind the kit a Tangent first. Andy is joined by Luke Machin on guitars and vocals, Jonas Reingold on bass, Theo Travis on saxes and flutes, and Marie-Eve de Gaultier on keyboards and vocals. Guest appearances by Boff Whalley on vocals and DJ/producer Matt Farrow round out the line-up. Perhaps this time around Andy felt the time was right to sit in every stool and wear every hat...
The Tangent came to be in 2002 and enjoy a loyal following. What captured my fancy this time around is the alternate approach the band took in putting this album together. I prefer to keep the soil in the prog garden pure and leaves politics out; however this album does a splendid job bringing the two together without pummeling you with a one-sided argument. There can be music with a purpose; music to make one think (remember the 70's?). But The Tangent does it without forsaking the
quality--or validity--of the music. One of the many gifts Andy possesses is the ability to tell a
story--a real story--one that pulls at your emotions, makes you think, and gets under your skin without causing you to bleed. The words and music used by The Tangent paint a picture as vivid as a Salvador Dali original...
Another dark gem etched in etched in vinyl here is "Slow Rust." There is an eerie, somewhat sense of macabre coming through the headphones as the song opens, much like Steven King reading Hallmark cards out loud; is he being nice or should I walk faster past the open door? One thing The Tangent refuses to do is stay silent or stand on the sidelines when discussing issues that tear at the moral fabric of society. Andy prefers to point out the hypocrisy that runs rampant today, whether it be politicians, the couple next door, or the tabloid press. The music absolutely captures the spirit and soul; the colors running down the canvas are rife with raw emotion.
"The Slow Rust of Forgotten Machinery" was released on the Inside Out Music label; you can purchase this jewel and others like it at The Tangent. Check out more fantastic prog artists under the Inside Out umbrella at Inside Out Music. Andy Tillison and The Tangent can also be found on Facebook and Twitter; The Tangent FB and @thetangentmusic respectively.
For a taste of what The Tangent brings to the prog garden, I chose the cut "Two Rope Swings." An elegant opening belies the depth of this piece; I pick up scents of U.K. in the air and perhaps a hint of Gentle Giant. The flow of the music and the range of mood a la Tangerine Dream are striking...much like discovering a bottle of Armand de Brignac champagne at your local discount liquor store...once the shock wears off the savoring begins...
The prog garden needs artists like The Tangent...sometimes it is important to stand up and be counted. Andy & Co. make more than just a political statement here; this is a record that demands everyone look in the mirror and decide if they like who/what they see. Are you content to let the world spiral on and just be a spectator--or can you get in the game and make a difference? Is the slow rust that surrounds you the moral decay of your world, and if so, what can be done about it? The planet has not seen such divisive times as these in a while, and the prog garden is as good a place as any to get the conversation started...just be prepared to dig deep into the garden soil and have plenty of time to indulge your listening skills...
As the The Tangent sates your appetite for relevant, meaningful, insightful prog right now, The Closet Concert Arena continues the search for all things prog so as to keep you replete with an plethora of options as we delve into the future...until next time...
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