MOSTLY AUTUMN: Sight Of Day (PROGRESSIVE ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

For its twelfth album in almost 20 years of existence, Mostly Autumn had announced to come back to a brighter, or at least less dark subject than the one evoked on the concept "Dressed in Voices". On the other hand, no particular precision as for the musical content of "Sight of Day", even if since "Passengers" the systematic celtic-folklo-progressive style of the beginnings has gradually given way to more pop accents, without however denying its basics, always present, but in a less visible way.

And just to make this introduction lie, this new album starts with a 14-minute track, the longest ever recorded by the band. Divided into three parts, 'Sight of Day' offers an exciting and slow start, punctuated by a hymn-like chorus, before giving way to a central instrumental section where Bryan Josh literally makes his guitar cry before Olivia Sparnenn(-Josh) comes to drive the nail into the finale with her powerful voice and incredible range, in a major mode key, thus justifying the more joyful aspect desired in this production.

After such an appetizer, critics of the York band will argue that holding such a cadence over 73 minutes seems presumptuous. What a mistake on their part! Mostly Autumn literally knocks out the competition with true atomic hits made up of unstoppable melodies and accompaniments that are both powerful and varied, but also consensual.

'Tomorrow Dies' is a real hit, with a chorus of incredible suggestive power, with the voice of Olivia Sparnenn perched high up, and one wonders how pop-rock radio stations can still miss such jewels. Of course, Bryan Josh also gives a few vocal interpretations, taking the subject to a more rocky dimension, sometimes bordering on the blues, or evoking Jethro Tull ('One Round the Sun'). But it's still his sweetness that will take the listener high up in the ethers, with 'The Man Without a Name' where the beauty is accompanied by the simple piano of Iain Jennings, on which a few guitar scratches whisper. Totally magical.

And since after such a discography there is no question of definitively forgetting the past, we find the unavoidable Troy Donockley for the traditional Celtic touch ('Raindown'), but also and above all the violinist Anna Phoebe who comes to breathe new energy. The whole thing ends smoothly with 'Forever and Beyond' for a hopeful finale, with a magical melody.

After such a demonstration, the conclusion is self-evident: never since "The Last Bright Light" Mostly Autumn had released such a dense and successful album. One of their greatest successes, without a doubt. - Official website

MOSTLY AUTUMN

SIGHT OF DAY

MOSTLY AUTUMN RECORDS

PROGRESSIVE ROCK