Tangent, The - Not As Good As The Book

Year of Release: 2008
Label: InsideOut
Catalog Number: IOMSECD 291 SPV 79710 DCD
Format: CD
Total Time: 94:43:00

The Tangent's most recent studio release is a double album epic. Not only that, it comes with a book. Oh, not just the usual lyric booklet, but an actual book. Because the review copy I have doesn't contain the book (a truism, not a complaint) -- it's a short novel actually -- I can't describe it to you at any length. But, I can tell you that not only a book, but an illustrated book. The story contained within written by vocalist/keyboardist Andy Tillison and illustrated by Antoine Ettori.

So then, is the title self-prophesizing? Is it really not as a good as the book? Or is that just Tillison and co -- Guy Manning, Jonas Reingold, Jaime Salazar, Jakko M Jakszyk, Theo Travis and Julie King -- just being clever. Yes. I mean, the latter; that's he's being clever. Because what it means? well, it relates to the story itself as well as being somewhat cheeky, there actually being a book. As are some of the lyrics, maybe all of the lyrics, clever -- the promo copy doesn't have those either. Ah, but I've no qualm about buying an upgrade to the special edition - I've done that once before with this band because I just had to know what Tillison was on about. And I've no patience anymore to transcribe ?. Though as I'm sure this will get a lot of spins, over time I'll figure them all out. But in addition to prog references, certainly musically, there are some clever references to Star Trek? (in fact, the very first notes immediately made me think of the theme to the classic series on my very first listen? but I think that's just coincidence)?

But I digress. What does it sound like. Well, let's agree that Tillison is not a great vocalist, but he makes up for it in enthusiasm. And just listen to his fabulously jazzy keyboard solo in "Lost In London Twenty-Five Years Later," a piece that returns to their Canterbury-ish origins in a mellow, easy-going fashion, trilling flute a nice accent. But let's not forget to mention a hot sax solo from Travis as well. It's a piece that seems both fresh and familiar at the same time.

But vocals aside, this a lush, rich, multi-layered work whose arrangements will draw you in, revealing new aspects upon each listen. In addition to the beautiful keyboard work from Tillison, Travis is spot on with his flute and sax work, and Tangent newcomer Jakszyk ably fills the shoes vacated by Roine Stolt. He has his own style and sound, but it still leaves you no doubt that this The Tangent. Their roots may have been to bring Canterbury and other classic prog styles in the 21st century, but here they build upon that by branching out, notably I find this jazzier than past releases, and also rockier. It's more impression than, perhaps, fact. Even as we get everything from pastoral passages to high-energy rockers, the whole thing holds together more than just well. It's an adventure that doesn't seem at all chaotic. This is a bold album - not daring, at least not as saying so might imply - but bold, in terms of being painted in rich, vibrant colours - even when the colours are represented by pastels.

High energy is the main force here, as The Tangent don't start out shyly with the opener "A Crisis In Mid Life." It is full-throttle with keyboards upfront, leading the charge in this brassy, brash jazzy-disco like prog number. A lively, happy beat belies the rather somber subject matter. No one finds their mid-life crisis to be cheerful (if my own quarter-life crisis a couple decades ago is anything to go by).

The instrumental "Celebrity Puree" rocks! It's a churning number filled with rumbling bass, crashing percussion, screaming guitar and yes, more fine sax soloing. The multi-part "Not As Good As The Book" rocks as well, lead by some keyboards that nod at those widdly tones found in neo (ok, I thought of ? again? Marillion), even as the rest of the track bears no neo-kinship. In fact, a certain twangy guitar transition (too short to be called a solo) is more midwest than European. But this track also downshifts considerably to become pastoral - strummed and plucked guitar, light percussion, and airy flute. An old world feel creeps in a bit later, cut across by a searing guitar solo, before we're launched back into high-energy rock.

And one can't help but think of Jethro Tull's "Aqualung" in the strutting "Bat Out Of Basildon," though it builds upon that opening riff (altered), and goes from there, feeding off the darkness of the track the precedes it ("Sale Of Two Souls"). It slips into a more cheerful and freewheeling rhythm so seamlessly, as Tillison rattles off references to Route 66, and some well-worn clichés ("bat out of hell" being one that sticks because of the title) and references to being on the road. And yes, this passage is just perfect for a long road trip; the more demonic sections perfect for looking a bit devilish or sinister (I keep seeing that flash of Edward Norton with green eyes looking?evil in the Incredible Hulk promo trailer).

But they can also be ultra mellow, as in the first section of "The Ethernet." This is a sweeping, romantic piece about a cyber relationship between two individuals, separated not just by distance but time as well. This track builds from that somber beginning to become something quite epic, and not without a measure of tension. And parts of "A Sale Of Two Souls" are also quite mellow and lyrical, contrasted with sections that are heavy in tone and dark in feel, fueled by anger; Tillison's snarling vocals matching the gnashing of a bruised, abused acoustic guitar.

Disc Two contains two tracks, but like prog can be, they are lengthy. The first "Four Egos One War" begins as a middle-eastern flavoured piece, guest vocalist Julie King harmonizing with Tillison, before the prog breaks out - drums and keyboards being the most prominent, second by the burning churn of guitar. It continues in the rockier mode that the band have been pursuing on disc one. Though in fact, this track is a microcosm of what we experience on disc one - pastoral, rock, jazz, all blended together gorgeously. Manning makes a prominent vocal appearance here, too, on a bouncy, bubbly section (not bubbly in a space rock way, by the way) that recalls his own solo work (perhaps a section he composed?), though he's been anything but absent before then as all those acoustic textures, mention and unmentioned, are his. At some 20-plus minutes, it's hard to encapsulate, but there some fine and some very fine moments here.

"The Full Gamut" is and continues the mix of rock and jazz from disk one. There are different sections within this long work, which seems to be simultaneously about a disintegrating relationship - at least one that is strained by "being on the road" -- and our societal decline, one a metaphor for the other? well, perhaps each a metaphor for the other - and that depending on which subsection you are listening, too. It is felt strongly in "Not A Drill - A Storm In The Mountains Of Cantal." This does not seem to be part of the "Not As Good?" story, however. More they are bonus tracks on their own CD. It's not billed that way and I could be wrong, but? Ultimately, the one musical style not previously explored on this CD is in full bloom, briefly, at the end of "The Full Gamut" (though I don't think that's really what is being referred to; I think it's a full gamut of emotion [as expressed through varying musical styles]). That style? Well, I'd call it modern classical - cinematic, movie-music (the likes of which isn't used much anymore in favor of a rock soundtrack). Oh, this lasts only for the brief, last passage. It ends the album on a very sad and somber note; and yet also dovetails nicely with a similarly sparse note sequence (also brief) that begins the album (the part I said made me think of the first notes of the Star Trek theme).

I've spent a lot of time to tell you simply that this is another wonderful entry in the Tangent oeuvre, in annals of prog. Well worth the high marks I'm giving this. Yes, some might shave a few points because Tillison is not a great singer; but why, really? It's that very "everyman" quality that makes this release special; it's that that puts "us" into the protagonists' shoes. So while yes, I often do shave points myself for that very thing... it's a non-factor for me in this case.

Oh, by the way, about this review: Not as good as the CD.

Tracklisting:
Disc One: A Crisis In Mid Life: A Crisis In Mid Life / Lost In London Twenty Five Years Later / The Ethernet / Celebrity Pure? / Not As Good As The Book / A Sole Of Two Souls / Bat Out Of Basildon

Disc Two: : Four Egos One War / The Full Gamut

Musicians:
Andy Tillison Diskdrive - keyboards, vocals
Guy Manning - acoustic instruments, vocals
Jonas Reingold - bass guitar
Jaime Salazar - drums
Jakko M Jakszyk - electric guitars, vocals
Theo Travis - sax, flute
Julie King - vocals

Discography:
The Music That Died Alone (2003)
The World We Drive Through (2004)
Pyramids And Stars (2005)
A Place In The Queue (2006)
Going Off On One (2007)
Not As Good As The Book (2008)
Down And Out In Paris And London (2009)
Comm (2011)
Le Sacre Du Travail (2013)
A Spark In The Aether (2015)

Going Off On One (DVD) (2007)
Going Off On Two (CD/DVD) (2010)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin VA

Added: June 28th 2008
Reviewer: Stephanie Sollow
Score:
Artist website: www.thetangent.org
Hits: 4620
Language: english