COSMOGRAF: The Hay-man Dreams (PROGRESSIVE ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

Is it still necessary to present Cosmograf, Robin Armstrong's project, which comes out, just a little more than a year after his last album, his new delivery "The Hay-man Dreams" ? After having evoked various subjects such as the mind in front of the machine, solitude in space, the absurd according to Camus, Cosmograf invites us to follow the dreams of a... scarecrow. Solitude, not always so far from the concept, is conducive to so many dreamy musical ramblings and to the introspection of this frightening man made of straw, alone in the middle of his wheat field.

Emancipation is the word that comes to mind after a first listening. The previous albums of Robin, of a great quality, suffered from being a little too marked by his influences (Porcupine Tree, Pink Floyd, The Who). Here, they sound to the ear better assimilated and integrated, even transcended. They are naturally always present as in "Hay-Man", disturbing of beauty with its recall to "Dark Side Of The Moon" through this feminine vocal and its samples during its first half, followed by the incisive guitars close to Porcupine Tree. The solos are legion, of all beauty and extend for the greatest pleasure of the amateurs, demonstrating the delicate and sensitive touch of Robin.

Drawing from what he knows how to do best and strong of his experience, our Englishman delivers here his best album to date and advocates the values of progressive rock, especially that of transmitting emotions without being necessarily too intellectual or elitist. The construction of 'Motorway' is a perfect example: a small masterpiece starting with dry guitar arpeggios on which rather slow synthesizer layers are grafted. The title takes time to develop (eight minutes) and to rise in power with a beautiful coherence to give way in its last part to the electric guitar, magnificent. The simplicity of the composer allied to his uncompromising requirement to produce quality titles is disconcertingly effective ('Trouble In The Forest'). 'Cut The Corn' comes closer with delight to the Camel from 'Harbour Of Tears' or 'Dust And Dreams' with its guitar and its Latimer-like vocals (and a little Hackett for the dry guitar part).

Concise, direct, emotional, personal, the doubts expressed in the introduction vanish when listening to this new record which only invites to one thing: press the replay button. - Official website

COSMOGRAF

THE HAY-MAN DREAMS

BURNING SHED

PROGRESSIVE ROCK