I did not know about this new project 'Rain' which was created before the period of isolation and which highlights artists who participate or have participated in various essential formations of international progressive rock such as Ark, Jadis, Arena, Blind Ego, IQ or Frost*. They released in 2020 a first studio recording 'Singularity' which offered long developments in a progressive style mixing different periods of this style and 2023 sees the birth of its successor, 'Radio Silence' which continues in this direction with more compositions which are generally shorter than in the first opus but which make it possible to diversify the whole.
'Genaú' (see the video above) opens the ball with a short symphonic instrumental with beautiful choirs and keyboards filling the whole space which can recall certain atmospheres of 'Genesis', then, 'Hypnosis' follows suit with a catchy first part with a few changes of tempo and a bass line that leads the dance on a melody being easy to remember, and, at about 2 minutes, a rather offbeat electronico/jazzy interlude is inserted after the more conventional first part to return after a beautiful intervention of guitar to the starting theme which takes vigor until the end. With 'Something New' (see the video here), we embark on a patchwork of atmospheres mixing jazzy, reggae and rock intonations which shows the beautiful diversity that can offer us 'Rain' and we can also underline the beautiful vocal arrangements throughout the title. Change of scenery with the remarkable eponymous title of the album which unrolls on a delicate mid-tempo with a light melody a slight crescendo which falls after a very beautiful plaintive guitar solo and which ends with a few guitar chords accompanied by soft vocalize. Make way for the two longest titles of the album with, first of all 'Solid State' which, with its first part with a light and catchy rhythm led by a jumping bass, shows a more marked progressive face by alternating sung sections with inventive instrumental parts with different changes of rhythm to return to the end of the starting theme. The other long development is 'Bring It Back' which shows a more elaborate construction and which takes us through a beautiful progressive epic in which the two singers pass the ball to each other in a beautiful way according to the fluctuating intensity of the moment throughout the title, the break in the second part bringing a real originality by evacuating all the tension accumulated during the first part. New change of scenery with 'Never Ending Circle' which takes us into a funky atmosphere by moving away from progressive for a more direct title which embroiders around the main theme with beautiful instrumental interventions (including this beautiful quieter section at 4 minutes) between the sung parts (by the way very well not the vocal pair 'Rob Groucutt'/'Mirron Webb'). 'Winter Sun' is a short melancholic piano interlude which shows a new facet of 'Rain' and serves as a beautiful introduction to the last title 'Fear in the Night' which develops 8 inventive minutes in a progressive atmosphere which can recall in the chorus the Germans of 'RPWL' (which release right new a new album 'Crime Scene': next review on myprogmusic) and which add other ingredients such as this classical guitar section in the first part or this second guitar break in the second part with a harmonious song which precedes a final in acceleration and in crescendo with a very nice electric guitar solo.
In summary, the British of 'Rain' release a very beautiful album very diversified by integrating different styles between and in each composition which, in a way, is the very definition of the progressive which transforms the listener into an explorer at inside a sound labyrinth bringing to each nook and cranny its stylistic particularity. Of course, 'Radio Silence' is to be recommended to all those who like to take their time to tame a musical work in order to ultimately draw all the substantial marrow from it... | |
