I am a latecomer to what would generally be classed as ‘Prog’, so when I was invited to see The Reasoning at their Album Launch, I went along because of word of mouth from someone I trusted. I had seen Matt in his previous band, Magenta, and if I’m honest, wasn’t a fan. Sure, it was nice to get out of London for a day, but… not really my music of choice.

Then I saw, and more importantly, heard The Reasoning. Immediately the ‘Prog’ label disappeared, and what I witnessed was possibly the beginnings (or at least early days) of a band that has the potential to become a very successful Rock band. I would venture to say that if they were based in America, where towns seem to have resident artists at clubs, they could earn a very good living. I was hooked, bought the CD, loved the fly on the wall DVD that came with it, and now, after all that preamble, am ready to attempt to review the Live & Untrousered in Bilston 2008 bootleg DVD!

After a very well shot opening montage of the band getting ready to travel to the gig, backed by a superb version of a requiem Sanctus, Dominus, Deus (…sadly I am unsure who’s version, but it’s not Mozart nor Puccini), the change to gig camera is slightly startling! It is as the difference between ‘shot on video’ and ‘shot on film’. It must be remembered, however, that this is a bootleg DVD so one makes allowances.

Of more importance is the quality of the sound, which comes via the mixing desk, and is totally spot on. One can hear each instrument distinctly, and even the bass, which can often be swamped and inaudible.

The backing vocals of both the superb Gareth, who has a quality and clarity that would be at home in musical theatre, and Dylan, who has a great Kid Rock vocal sound, are excellent, and whilst Rachel’s lead vocals are a little muffled, this is down to mixing on the night, and in no way a reflection of her voice or technique, because at the album launch, they were very clear.

Lyrically, the ‘prog’ label does return somewhat, with themes ranging from the Homeric, which is appropriate with Rachel herself being quite a Siren, to the theatrical 4th Wall, which she breaks each time she chats to the audience. Given the size of the venue, one can assume that a large part of the audience are friends of the band, and these chats are more intimate than is often seen.

Visually, the DVD is well filmed, with several camera angles used, and I particularly like the one over the shoulder of drummer Vinden… surely the least ‘drummer-esque’ drummer out there! No crazy arm waving, no manic head-banging, just very consistent, and very accomplished beat keeping.

The camera shows that the band clearly have fun performing, and that they enjoy what they are doing. None of the oft seen moody sneering of wannabes who have seen someone on the telly acting like that, so think they have to do the same. I cannot see a Gallagher brother, for example, bouncing up and down in the same way as Matt in the number Fallen Angel, which fun aside, shows his bass playing skills because not a note is missed!

Whilst there are bigger fans of this type of music than myself, who are thus better qualified to comment on the individual songs themselves, the standout for me, both on the DVD and the album, is Breaking The 4th Wall. It is still not a song that one can go out humming, but has that one thing I look for in a song of any genre. It generates an emotional response. It is almost backing vocals lead, and when Gareth hit some of his higher notes, I felt the hairs standing up on my arms. I can’t decide, as Rachel’s mentions to the audience whether it is a love song or not, but to be honest, I don’t care. A good song to me is one you remember, and not one you have to analyse or needs you to ‘understand-it-to-get-it’. This is after all, an entertainment medium, not an educational one.

One often hears “what is in a name?” Well, this branch of the Cohen family may not yet be as rich or famous as the well known Hollywood Coen brothers (no relation!), but given the right luck, and if they continue writing and playing the way the were when this DVD was filmed and subsequently, I can see no reason at all why there could not be a well deserved big surprise awaiting them, just around the corner.

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