Chiltern proggers Touchstone have enjoyed a meteoric rise over the last few years and deservedly so. From mid afternoon slots on dodgy festivals in Milton Keynes to afternoon slots on dodgy festivals in America in the blink of an eye! 2007's debut Discordant Dreams was well received here and all over the world and we have been eagerly awaiting this, their follow-up. And we ain't disappointed, let me tell you!
Wintercoast starts off with a much heralded introduction by famous actor man Jeremy Irons. It's a bit of a laugh and I'm going to fire up Google Earth later to see If I can pinpoint the "ancient mountain range of Rapak" and indeed Wintercoast itself. After an introduction like that the title track needed to be good. And it is, the start fittingly reminiscent of Black Sword era Hawkwind. Kim Seviour's angelic vocals supported by the more demonic (well less angelic at least) voice of Rob Cottingham. It's pleasing to hear on this release that Kim has more confidence with the lead vocals allowing Rob to take more of a back seat. Or rather, more time to apply himself to the keyboard which, especially in this track, shine thru like my head at a gig. Vhere's also some excellent guitar work by Adam Hodgson. But Adams guitar is more to the fore on the next track Strange Days, which reminds me of a track by 80's hair rockers Shy - Break Down The Walls.
Voices kicks off with a keyboard run that puts me in mind of 80's proggers Marillion, possibly Punch'n'Judy. Under that you can just make out some whispering, rather like the voices in TV sitcom Lost. But that doesn't last long before it gets slowed down for a mellow section, Kim's voice again illuminating the room like a candle in a candle holder. There's a beautiful interlude in there before it rocks out again and it finishes with a great little wig-out session featuring Rob, Moo Bass and Alasdair Melville.
Joker In The Pack kicks off like the bastard child of early Marillion and Megadeth which is a sound to behear. It's a bit of a pity that it doesn't continue in this fashion, but the lyrics have proved to be very prophetic. "Casting pearls before swine" could easily encapsulate the Government's response to the Swine Flu pandemic that's sweeping the world! However the rest of the lyrics are about Shakespeare and kings and stuff. Original Sin is a slower ballad - not a cover of the old Ozzy Osbourne tune - which gives the band to show off their gentler side. I can almost see the light from a thousand lighters, though of course nowadays it's the glow from a thousand camera phones, all capturing that YouTube moment. This could've won the Eurovision Song Contest if that show wasn't just for shit songs.
The next track up is the slightly disturbing Solace. It's a fairly nice tune, but the lyrics creep me out a little too much, so it doesn't do much for me unlike the next track, Zinomorph, which many of you will be familiar with already due to the radio edit being on the Classic Rock website. It's thumping track and immediately catchy enough to do well on the radio. This longer version allows the track to breathe nicely. The band draw a Line in the Sand next with a heartfelt and earnest little ditty bemoaning the iPhone culture of greed and self importance, before dropping into the two-part The Witness, Al's drums heralding the start of this 12 minute epic, with Rob and Kim sharing the vocal duties. Rob's keyboard parts on this track also shine through, which lends this track an ethereal Misplaced-Marillion air in places. Finally, Jeremy Irons closes the album proper off with an atmospheric Operation Mindcrimeish ending, and the collection is rounded offf nicely with the radio edit of Zinomorph.
Touchstone have come on in leaps and bounds over the last couple of years, and this album should see them catapulting into the top echelon of British Prog. I expect to start seeing them included in more "super groups" soon!
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