The Wilsons are in the spotlight these days: while waiting for Steven's return with Porcupine Tree (June 2022) and Damian's integration into Arena (October 2022?), it's Ray Wilson who brings out "The Weight of Man". Ray whose most famous feat of arms was to be the ephemeral frontman of the ultimate Genesis album, but who already has to his credit a good number of albums, with the bands Stiltskin and Cut, then solo since 2003, in a pop or alternative rock style.
"The Weight of Man" plays more in a sophisticated and comfortable pop, enriched with touches of sax, clarinet or cello, and benefits from the presence of a renowned guest, Yogi Lang (RPWL) on keyboards and in the chorus. Like its neat cover, the album is a nice product with an impeccable finish. The music proposed is not intended to shock the listener, but on the contrary to secure him in a cocoon with a very studied comfort, in a classy pop which reminds Brian Ferry or the most mainstream side of RPWL ('The Last Laugh'). Ray Wilson plays the crooner card ('I, Like You') and it suits him very well, his warm and slightly veiled voice perfectly fits to the soft and never irritated atmospheres ('Cold Like Stone', clean).
On the other hand, the carefully calculated side of the product leads to a perfectly calibrated result, devoid of any rough edges. This smoothness shapes the compositions into uniformed and not very personalized tracks that will immediately please the mainstream fans, but will hardly catch the attention of the more trenchant style lovers.
This is obviously not the purpose of "The Weight of Man", which efficiently and predictably accomplishes its mission: to provide a little less than fifty minutes of pleasant, consensual and perfectly executed music, which is already not so bad!