Pure Reason Revolution - The Dark Third (2CD edition)

Year of Release: 2007
Label: InsideOut
Catalog Number: IOMCD265
Format: CD
Total Time: 92:07:00

With The Dark Third having been released in the UK, as well as the US, albeit in a different form, maybe the best release of the band's full album debut has once again been noted as an Inside Out release. By including a bonus disc, which sports the various UK and US extras and adding two so far unreleased tracks, this is the album to get if you're into the new wave of prog and the sound of bands as diverse as Muse, Archive as well as Smashing Pumpkins.

With a guitar sound that is often reminiscent of the best David Gilmour, combined with outstanding vocal harmonies only the Beach Boys could think of before them, as well as some spacey synths, Pure Reason Revolution have found the perfect way to introduce prog into the 21st century. This is one of the few bands who have fully understood the way to deal with complex arrangements and outrageous playing in a way to reach both the young music lover as well as the "old" prog "fart." Great to finally see and hear such an amount of vitality captured amidst zillions if binary ones and zeros!

Already the instrumental opener "Aeropause" proves that this is an outstanding band, whether it's their creative skills or the sonic end result of the recording. The opening section for the lengthy "The Bright Ambassadors Of Morning" gets close to the feel of Ozric Tentacles by combining spacey elements with a slow reggae rhythm. But then PRR puts their vocal trademark in turning the atmosphere inside out. Whilst you'd expect those lush vocals to fully shine during calm moments, they are also all over the planet during the fierce and catchy "Nimos & Tambos."

Throughout their unorthodox circuit the band doesn't shun a more commercial approach as is apparent during "Bullitts Dominae" and although the instrumentation includes a real violin, the mix makes sure that violin isn't omnipresent yet nicely tucked away in the arrangement. Plenty of catchy elements are scattered all over "Arrival" with once again some ingenious vocal input. The album closes with "He Tried To Show Them Magic" where Zeppelin meets folky touches. As happens a lot these days there's a long silence before the final three minutes happen called "Ambassadors Return" a slow song where once again vocal harmonies rule.

The bonus disc opens with "In Aur?lia" which is taken from the EP Cautionary Tales For The Brave, a very contemporary sounding alternative single with Muse-like guitars. "Borgens Vor" is the first of two so far unreleased tracks that make this set an absolute must for Pure Reason Revolution fans. It's a minimalist lounge-type track which then changes into an uptempo rocker. The next two songs "The Exact Colour" and "The Twyncyn / Trembling Willows" are pulled from the UK version of the album. The final track is yet another unreleased song entitled "Golden Clothes." Evolving towards an urban rhythm and combined with some Prodigy elements, it's very much a danceable track, which is probably not 100% representative for what PRR stands for.

Nevertheless a great set by a band with lots of live experience who are only in the very early stages of putting themselves on the map. No doubt with the right backing these youngsters could become huge in years to come. I wish them all the best for they deserve it!

Released in the UK by Holograph (SonyBMG 82876817842) in April 2006 and in the US by One Haven/Red Ink (cat no. 68450) in July 2006. Below are the two covers, respectively:

Tracklisting:
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

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



Musicians:
Chloe Alper - vocals, bass
Andrew Courtney - drums, percussion
Jon Courtney - vocals, guitar, programming, keyboards, bass
James Dobson - keyboards, programming, violin, vocals, bass
Greg Jong - guitar, vocals, keyboards
Jamie Willcox - guitar, vocals

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: February 20th 2007
Reviewer: John "Bobo" Bollenberg

Artist website: www.facebook.com/purereasonrevolution/
Hits: 4577
Language: english