'Sight Of Day' was for me one of the musts of the 2017 year (see here) and the end of 2018 saw the release of the new album of 'Mostly Autumn', 'White Rainbow' but it's only on March 1st that the first CD is finally available on streaming platforms. This last album has a particular resonance because, after the disappearance of his companion 'Liam Davison' (listen to his solo album of 2011 here), 'Bryan Josh' decided him to pay tribute with compositions of extraordinary emotional strength and from the first listening, I was completely caught by these melancholic melodies that triggered me repeatedly this thrill so characteristic and despite the duration of about 1 hour and 20 minutes, when the last chords of 'Young' arrive, we only want to press the play button again. 'Procession' starts the album with Irish bagpipe (Uillean Pipes) from the guest of honor 'Troy Donockley' and is a slow funeral procession to introduce the long title 'Viking Funeral' and its different parts that alternate melancholy and rage to better transmit these two feelings to us during the loss of a loved one and who has a very 'Floydian' final of great strength. The ballad 'Burn' follows with the appearance of ‘Olivia Sparnenn' who, from the first chords, carries us on a small cloud and continues to enchant us with the following title 'Run for the Sun' whose guitar solo final increases the slider of emotion one more step and the next title 'Western Skies' continues in this emotional highlight by adding a more progressive aspect to the second part of the title. The following scrolls the very melodic 'Into the Stars', 'Up' with its progressive structure, 'The Undertow' which is the only title written by 'Chris Johnson' and the short and stripped 'Gone', but the main piece is, of course, the eponymous title of the album of almost 20 minutes which alone is worth the purchase of this CD and which contains all the ingredients of an intense progressive mixing various influences with among others a first part very 'Floydien'. On the ray of magical moments, I could quote the first chorus of 'Olivia Sparnenn' at 9.40' which takes over from 'Bryan Josh' and which gives me goose bumps every time I listen to it : just Beautiful. After this intense moment, the last title 'Young' pays a last tribute but this time starting in a very bare way to keep only the substantive marrow of the music and ends this opus in the most beautiful way. In summary, as you will understand, 'White Rainbow' is much more than a simple album because, beyond the simple listening, it is necessary above all to feel it in the deepest of oneself and, if it is your case, you will have the wonderful surprise to live moments of a beautiful emotional intensity... | |
