Pure Reason Revolution - The Dark Third

Year of Release: 2006
Label: One Haven/Red Ink
Catalog Number: 68450
Format: CD
Total Time: 64:53:00

I have spent the last month or so in musical preparation for 2007's upcoming RosFest, NEARfest and CalProg festivals, and first in line is Pure Reason Revolution's The Dark Third, their first full-length release. Now, I do want to let you know that I was expecting something like Bubblemath or Krakatoa? maybe something RIO-ish. Something avant-garde, angular? math rock, maybe. You know, the name is what does it?

Is it? Nope. Am I disappointed? Nope. Not that I would have been if I had been right, either. Well, I don't know actually. If they'd been a good avant-garde, RIO band, then that would have been fine by me. Anyway, let's get back to the point. Pure Reason Revolution aren't RIO. What they are is a progressive minded rock/folk band that crosses over the line of "progressive rock" (and folk) into a musical realm where listeners of (almost) all music types will find something that "speaks to them." Rap, country and extreme metal folks might be on the outside looking in (but they're welcome to come inside, too - just leave the Stetsons 'n' spurs, blood 'n' gore, and death 'n' violence outside, okay?) Okay.

Revolutionary? Well, no. But this band does make what they do seem fresh and new, and that in itself is revolutionary in this age of "I wanna be just like?" whomever. Oh, that's not to say you won't find some familiar sounds and references in the music - they just maybe come from some unexpected corners (genres). And as I was listening to this for the I-don't-know-how-many-th time, the simple thought I had was "this is cool." I could leave it at that, I suppose, and just tell you that I'm giving this two thumbs up... more if I had more? and that you should just go and buy this.

Why is it I think it's "cool"? Great vocals, always a plus for me (when there's a vocalist). Catchy rhythms that aren't of a "garden variety" catchiness; there's just something? appealing. I'm thinking of "Apprentice Of The Universe" in particular, which has a "cool" factor that I can't really put into words. I love the cadence of the vocals and how they fit into the beat? It's pop-smarts without pop-commercialism, I guess you could say. I like it because it's new and familiar; fresh and "of the moment" in a classic style. I don't know if the sequencing was deliberate*, but the heaviness builds from track to track; a concept album in mood rather than in topic.

What's it like? At first listen to the opening track, you will think, "ah ha! They're a Floyd-influenced band." Think of your classic Floyd disks - particularly the iconic Dark Side Of The Moon - maybe Meddle, too. That's really the only time that Floyd steps strongly into the picture.

We get an almost-ethereal piece on "Goshens Remains," which I'd describe as a gutsier, punchier Enya? Yes, Enya; but actually, for me, it's of Mary Black that I think, another female Celtic-rock-new age vocalist. However, PRR's music isn't in any way Celtic. Folk-like, yes. So far, you think, "we'll yeah, that makes sense. PRR are from the UK."

But, didn't I say "unexpected corners"? Yes, I did. Would you have expected me to say that I thought of the Mammas and Pappas? Other reviews mention the Beach Boys, and that's true, too, but let me explain this Mammas and Pappas thing first. Yeh, the harmony between male and female vocals is a large part of it. But, add in that folk element and? It's not exactly "California Dreamin'" updated (which, uh, the Beach Boys did, come to think of it), but that's as a good an example as any. But, it's Mammas and Pappas updated, as this is very much a modern recording. Sleek and silky, shiny? smooth? black as night, bright light reflected off the surface? Although they're not as heavy, one might also mention Ephemeral Sun and White Willow. Yes, maybe because female vocals take the lead, but it's more than just that. It's? well a folk-based style. There is intensity to the music, an earnestness that makes even the dreamiest sections vibrant.

And what about that Beach Boys comment? I personally didn't quite hear it until "Voices In Winter" (track 6a). Though it's the artier, moodier side of the Beach Boys ("Caroline No," "God Only Knows", etc.), including a slide guitar that has distinctively surf/Hawaiian feel to it (arching swoops of sound) and soft harmonies. The sense throughout is that something is going to explode - a lot of tension. And explode it does, suddenly, once the sense of anticipation has hit a lull ("In The Realms Of The Divine," track 6b). Perhaps a very insensitive analogy, but it's like how the sea recedes drastically just before the tsunami hits. And then it does and we're racing towards the shore, propelled by insistent guitars, crashing percussion. It's not quite the maelstrom that describes, but it is turbulent. The Beach Boys also come to mind with the musically sunnier "Bullitts Dominae" (though I think of America at times).

What else? Most the rest of the album is variation on the rock-meets-space style, though not quite exactly space-rock. Other artists I've seen named include Porcupine Tree, another band that has stepped outside of the "progressive rock" milieu. This is probably most true in the latter half of "Bright Ambassadors Of Morning," which breaks out of the ethereal into heavier realms, with churning guitars. "Nimbos and Tambos" (a track on the US version, and on the "single" Apprentice Of The Universe) ups the heaviness yet another notch, melding these smooth harmonies with a harsh-edged rhythm that drives things forward with a nervous and raw urgency and intensity. "He Tried To Show Them Magic" begins as churning, percussion heavy piece, which leads into a reprise of "Bright Ambassadors of Morning" in "Ambassadors Return" (which makes me think a bit of ELO).

For the most part there isn't one instrument that takes over, becomes dominant. That is, one can't really say it's "guitar heavy" or "keyboard heavy" as the overall mix is balanced between the guitars, synths and percussion; lots of points where the word "swirling" comes to mind.

This is a nifty release and one of my favorites for 2006. It's classy and sophisticated without being snobbish or too esoteric. It carries you along in its soft folds, caressing you with gentle strokes, occasionally reminding that it's not totally benign or timid. Great stuff and I have enjoyed listening to it very much.

Released in the UK by Holograph (SonyBMG 82876817842) and a version in the US (cat # unknown) in addition to the version under review here. In 2007, released in Europe by InsideOut (IOMCD265); cover below, reusing artwork from Cautionary Tales...:

Tracklisting:
UK Version: Aeropause / Goshens Remains / Apprentice Of The Universe / Bright Ambassadors Of Morning / The Exact Colour / a. Voices In Winter - b. In The Realms Of The Divine / Bullitts Dominae / a. The Twyncyn - b. Trembling Willows / a. He Tried To Show Them Magic - b. Ambassadors Return

US Version 1: Aeropause / Goshens Remains / Apprentice Of The Universe / Bright Ambassadors Of Morning / Nimbos And Tambos / a. Voices In Winter - b. In The Realms Of The Divine / Bullitts Dominae / The Intention Craft / a. He Tried To Show Them Magic - b. Ambassadors Return

US Version 2: Aeropause / Goshens Remains / Apprentice Of The Universe / Bright Ambassadors Of Morning / Nimbos And Tambos / a. Voices In Winter - b. In The Realms Of The Divine / Bullitts Dominae / Intention Craft / a. He Tried To Show Them Magic - b. Ambassadors Return / Hidden Bonus: Asleep Under Eiderdown

European Version: Disc One: Aeropause / Goshen's Remains / Apprentice Of The Universe / The Bright Ambassadors Of Morning / Nimos & Tambos / Voices In Winter / In The Realms Of The Divine / Bullitts Dominae / Arrival / The Intention Craft / He Tried To Show Them Magic / Ambassadors Return

Disc Two: In Aur?lia / Borgens Vor / The Exact Colour / The Twyncyn / Trembling Willows / Golden Clothes

Musicians:
Chloe Alper - vocals, bass guitars
Jon Courtney - vocals, guitars, keyboards
Andrew Courtney drums
Jim Dobson - vocals, keyboard, guitar, bass guitar, violin
Jamie Wilcox - vocals, guitars

Discography:
Apprentice Of The Universe (ep) (2004)
Bright Ambassadors Of Morning (ep) (2005)
Cautionary Tales For The Brave (ep) (2005)
The Intention Craft (ep) (2005)
In Aurelia (ep) (2005)
The Dark Third (2006/2007*)
Live At NEARfest 2007 (2008)
Amor Vincit Omnia (2009)
Hammer And Anvil (2010)
Valour EP (ep) (2011)
*incl. bonus disc

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin UK

Added: October 31st 2006
Reviewer: Stephanie Sollow
Score:
Artist website: www.facebook.com/purereasonrevolution/
Hits: 4408
Language: english