The Chronicles of Father Robin trilogy draws to a close with Book 3 – Magical Chronicle. As with Book 1 and Book 2, Book 3 upholds and pays homage to the classic progressive rock of the 1970s when the prog rock concept album reigned supreme.
It sees our Robin escape the predicament he found himself in at the end of Book 2 and apparently discover the meaning to life, the universe and everything via stumbling on the Magical Chronicle.
It’s been interesting how the trilogy has developed. Book 1 being the full on prog rock bombast, Book 2 a more “chilled out” as the story goes ocean based and now Book 3 – so what happens here you may be wondering…..?
After enjoying what had gone before I was looking forward to Magical Chronicle perhaps with too much anticipation. You know how it is when you build something up beforehand and then feel a bit flat when it doesn’t work out?
Well, that’s how I felt initially for the first few listens to Book 3. It didn’t resonate with me at all. It come over as rather tired, tame, bland and felt as though the band had run out of ideas with the trilogy going out with a whimper rather than a bang.
I left it for a couple of days then spun it up again. Sometimes giving something a break gives fresh perspective. It did.
I had the “a ha” moment and got what was going on. One of those albums which opens up after a while. Prog isn’t supposed to be an easy listen at first – right?
Opinion duly revised. Now I have it as an excellent album and a fine conclusion to the trilogy.
The title track meanders back and forth in some style with glorious harmonies, flute and subtle keys. Skyslumber is very 1970s Yes along the lines of say To Be Over from Fragile.
Cloudship rather barking mad and eccentric. Very trippy and the high pitched vocal allied with the music sounded like one Jon Anderson might have written for Olias of Sunhillow and not making the cut.
Empress of the Sun has the big intro, lots of organ swirls, a free-flowing riff and twiddly bits. A punchy four minutes of goodness. Have a listen:
Lost in the Palace Gardens closes things out with a seven minute feast of folksy prog. The acoustic intro gives way to a rhythmic, repeating ever present bass line, gentle drumming and what sounds like mandolin (?) with all that and the vocals giving another proggy/trippy one. Sort of typically traditional, pastoral English prog like say a Steeleye Span or Renaissance.
As I mentioned above – Book 3 is a bit of a slow burner at first though opens up after half a dozen spins or so. Concluding an expansive progressive rock trilogy the likes of which have rarely been made since the 1970s.
As to getting hold of Book 3 (or indeed Books 1 and 2) try the Chronicles of Father Robin Bandcamp page: https://fatherrobin.bandcamp.com
As time of posting, it indicated that Book 3 CDs are sold out, though digital and vinyl versions available.
Other sources for CDs are Amazon and Caerllysi Music in Wales (where I got mine from) though if you dig around there’ll be other outlets I’d guess
https://amzn.to/3SYViDg
https://www.caerllysimusic.co.uk
As I type, the reissue of Persian Risk’s Rise Up album (including bonus tracks) from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal days has been slotted through the letter box. Review of that to follow……
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