LIFESIGNS: Cardington (PROGRESSIVE ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

Four years after his first eponymous opus, which had received rather flattering reviews from the editorial staff of Music Waves, Lifesigns, a British group, offers us his second opus, "Cardington". On the line-up side, if the soul of the band, John Young, is still here, assisted by Martin Beedle on drums, it is John Poole (ex-Cardiacs and The Wildhearts) who replaces Nick Beggs on bass.

If "Cardington" takes more or less the same bases as its predecessor, that is to say a progressive rock with its roots in the seventies but played, arranged and recorded in a contemporary way, Lifesigns has nevertheless the good idea to bring some evolutions avoiding the listener to have to listen to a repetita of the first album. When this one included only five tracks of more than respectable length allowing the band to develop its convoluted melodies, "Cardington" separates its three mini epics by shorter and more direct tracks. In addition, the few dissonances which enamelled the first album disappeared and if the writing remains rich in breaks and changes of themes, it became simpler, more immediate without losing its interest.

Thus, the three long titles that are 'N', 'Different' and 'Cardington' draw from the best recipes of the prog 70: interweaving of melodies, return to the theme, alternation of instrumental and vocal passages and changes of rhythm. If the keyboards are very present, they leave room for beautiful guitar solos full of feeling. The balance between vocals/instrumentals, keyboards/guitars, calm moments/sustained moments is perfect and these pieces generate a real pleasure to listen to, the vocals, keyboards and guitars knowing how to regularly offer us delicious shivers.

The four shorter tracks flirt with a dynamic and very seductive pop-rock, evoking the inevitable Steven Wilson, but also Yes (the choruses "tatataouda" on 'Voice In My Head'), Asia, Mike + The Mechanics ('Impossible') and even Phil Collins (less pop) on the final in apotheosis of 'Touch' on which we will also appreciate the nervous and very tight play of the bass.

Let's add to the perfectly digested influences the irreplaceable Genesis and Neal Morse for the fluidity of the melodies and the way everything fits together and evolves naturally. Lifesigns passes the test of the second album with flying colors and confirms all the good that the previous reviewers thought of it. - Official website

LIFESIGNS

CARDINGTON

AUTRE LABEL

PROGRESSIVE ROCK