There must be something very independant about the South Coast of England that brings out the independance in the prog artists down there, as it seems the area produces an inordinate number of solo albums. But it's not as though they don't get on, as they all seem to be happy to help each other out! Cosmograf is a case in point. End Of Ecclesia, is the second album by Waterloovile based multi-instrumentalist Robin Armstrong, who has written, played and produced the whole shebang, yet he wasn't adverse to roping in Also Edens Steve Dunn on the closing track, The Dark That Follows The Night.

End of Ecclesia is a loose concept album, with the lyrics based on the struggle between science and religion, and as any good concept album should, mixes up its styles well. There are a fair number of rock based tracks, such as opener Sins Of The Fathers, and 60s hippy classic "San Francisco"-inspired Flowers In My Hair, while the lighter end of the spectrum is catered for by the likes of the acoustic guitar of La Iglesia, Ministry Of Failure and A Day On The Moon.

Tracks such as Evolution Railroad show off a hankering for the 70s sounds of rock bands such as Deep Purple, while fans of epic songs can immerse themselves in the 10 minuter Who Will You Serve, replete with church choir, and alternating monster guitars and widdly keyboards. The two-parter Return To The Sea has a classical acoustic intro that I kept waiting to burst into some kind of Metallica monster, but instead get joined by a flute before flowing into part two's piano / vocals, before departing in another guitar wig out section.

The big finale to this is the previously mentioned The Dark That Follows The Night, and is the perfect way to end the album, full of twists and turns.

Overall then, and this is a decent album. Obviously, given its all too apparent homegrown roots, it's not the most polished of albums, but look beneath that, and there are some fine songs here.

The album can be bought for just £8 (+ £1 p&p) from www.cosmograf.co.uk