Mellotron: A beautiful word, with a magnificent history and a resonance that cannot be rivalled.
Pipe organ: A powerful sound, with unparalleled depth and a heavenly quality that transcends time and space.
Both are front and center on this stupendous debut release that should cause many tremors, especially among symphonic prog fans, who probably have been wet dreaming for something like this for decades! Mike Hewetson is a veteran multi-instrumentalist , especially on a multitude of glittering keyboards (mellotron, synthesizers, Hammond organ, and Taurus bass pedals) having honed his chops with Galahad in the 80s, united with Jon Barry, an excellent guitarist with The Far Meadow .
The three-part circa 30 minute “Atomic Sun suite” launches this solar module into the deepest recesses of the universe, both above named stars immediately showing off their wares, only to cede the stage to the most gorgeous piano etude one can wish for, a classical force of nature that would not only please the glorious classicists but equally elicit a smile from the Rick Wakemans of this world. On Part 1, axeman Jon Barry slashes across the arrangement with some intrepid phrasings, as Mike fires up the rhythm section into a frenzy , that hints at the sounds first heard on the Six Wives of Henry VIII (yes, it’s THAT good), and just like the famed golden caped crusader, the various keyboards are introduced one by one, the Hammond organ creating a fair amount of seismic tremors in the process. Part 2 offers little respite, the mighty mellotron M4000D-mini once again in the spotlight, a bluesier segue that settles into a tranquil ambiance, before letting the various synths (Mini-Moog Voyager, ASM Hydrasynth and Roland Jupiter 80) oscillate without supervision like a dancing troupe backing a Taylor Swift concert (sorry, the algorithms will pick this up). The Roland TS-11 drum kit does some serious percussive damage with impossible shuffles, and the combination of howling strings and jagged guitar tourniquets establishes a maelstrom of delicious harmonic thunder that really hits the spot. Grandiloquent, lavish and majestic, this is symphonic prog by definition. The piano makes a well-deserved return on the exquisite Part 3, Mike has definitely the skills to emote long enough for the synthesized pitch fever to enter the fray, a most friendly invite, adorned with big bass chords, choir mellotron, Moog bubbles and zippy strands that cannot disappoint. Barry then decides to make his crying guitar bellow in an unabashed display of sustained authority and emotional discourse, ably supported by all the other instruments at Mike’s disposal.
A delicate interpretation of serenity is to be found on “Atomic Blues”, the piano twinkling like a sky festooned with glittering stars. A brainy set up for what the title overtly implies, a fusion/fission of blues and prog (I think Floyd kind of mastered that style, wot?) that simply cannot go wrong even if they tried. Pure 100% unadulterated fun and a respectful tribute to the iconic heritage of the golden age of progressive (which I thankfully witnessed from its birth). It also provides Jon Barry to stretch out those strings with both power and grace, much to our collective pleasure. Adding mountains of mellotron is the cherry on the proverbial cake.
Yes, you read it right, ”Nous Sommes du Soleil” is an apex moment on the much-maligned Tales of Topographic Oceans album, decidedly revered by this band and rightly so, it’s a beauty, especially when rendered in an all-instrumental package, where the piano rules and helps to create an altogether dissimilar sounding envelope. The soft synths and the electric guitar handling audaciously the French words of ‘we belonging to the sun’, a valiant undertaking to say the least.
Not surprisingly, the grand finale is the monster 14 minute and 16 second epic , “A Monk’s Prayer”, an ultimate opportunity to let all the conventions fall by the wayside, introducing the Godzilla of all instruments the church organ, the only sole instrument that can create sound throughout the entire spectrum of human hearing, spanning from 20hz to 20khz ! Toss in an embarrassment of deep choir mellotron cascades, and the torrential resonance of the pipes come crashing through the darkness, shoving brutally aside any semblance of ennui. Its awe-inspiring, spiritually engrossing and completely exalting experience, just the vibrations are enough for one to sonically climax. The solemn ambient finale has taken over my soul. Amen. It’s not what you believe in that matters most in life but rather how you choose music that makes you feel incredibly happy. This is my choice, certainly one of my choices for epic track of 2025.
It’s about damn time that symphonic instrumental prog embarks on a quantity revival, because only occasional slivers of momentary delight is not enough to sustain our hunger and thirst yearnings. Giving full marks is supposedly a no-no for a debut album, but I am a rogue, so I don’t care about the consequences of my actions and take full responsibility for the backlash. I hear the next album is in the works. Best news yet!
5 nuclear globes