The genre-defying Hats off Gentlemen it’s Adequate have another excellent offering here with Nostalgia for Infinity. Malcolm Galloway and Mark Galtand aided here and there by some deft flute from Kathryn Thomas have an album which is proggy, rocky, ambient, chilled and rewarding more and more with each listen.
There is a lose concept/theme around the “fragility of human civilisation” with seven songs inspired by sci-fi author Alistair Reynolds.
Century Rain being an ideal example of what HOGIA are all about. A gentle intro, vocals which remind your reviewer somewhat of the great Peter Hamill as the song develops in to some measured bass and wonderful keys and synth particularly around the mid-section before it ups the ante further. Wonderful.
Twin Earth is in a similar vein and tells a strange tale through the lyrics involving an alternative Paris, a death being investigated, a visit from the future and nanotechnology.
Here’s the video.
Ark looks at the Ark Royal (WW2 aircraft carrier as you must know) with its connections to the Galloway family. A very well composed almost twelve minute instrumental which is hauntingly beautiful and atmospheric with some excellent guitar work.
Nanobotoma is another of the Reynolds-inspired pieces. It has a nice understated riff and more of those excellent synths/keys as the tale is told.
Chasing Neon is a rocky/funky/electronic instrumental, which is the pre-cursor to a number of linked pieces making up the Redemption Ark Suite.
This is expansive stuff featuring the full range of styles exploring the fragility of civilisation theme in some style around the Reynolds inspiration.
It’s a series of cuts which require attention and a deep listen. You’ll be pleased you did.
Glitterband goes between tinkling keys to the harder bits and back again. Some instrumentals are thrown in to add to the atmosphere.
The title track completes the suite with a seven minute prog/rock journey which again twists between the keys and the rockier bits also featuring some measured flute which fits in very well.
Voyager is a chilled instrumental drawn from the eponymous space probe launched way back in 1977 before the album closes with Sixth Extinction as the band go out on a fine heavy rocked up style.
So much to recommend HOGIA here in Nostalgia for Infinity. If science fiction isn’t your “thing” – please don’t be put off checking the band out. The music is top notch as it crosses all genres. Sit down and enjoy it. Listen to it all the way through and you’ll be drawn right in.
The download version and CD can be bought directly from the HOGIA Bandcamp page here:
https://hatsoffgentlemen.bandcamp.com/
Go and have a look and listen. Do it now.
My thanks to Malcolm Galloway for kindly sending me a review copy. Also, check out our review of the band’s previous album Out of Mind, which is another fine listen. Read the review here.
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