Neil Wighton is the guitarist with Spriggan Mist. A few months ago their album The Glare reached me and it’s excellent.
Neil messaged me a couple of weeks ago saying he’s released his debut solo album and if I’d like to take a look at it. Neil said it is: “very much in the Prog camp with rock and metal influences.”
That’ll do for me…..I whipped out my debit card and snapped up a copy of the CD from Neil’s BandCamp page. There’s also a digital version for those of you who prefer that sort of thing.
Now then – Neil’s put together a most fine album with The Muse.
Neil handles guitars, bass, keys and the majority of the vocals. He has a nice rich, rangy voice and can hit the high notes. The guitar is restrained yet effective. His solos are full of tone and feel. Big washes of chords and understated riffs add plenty and the synth runs are superbly fluid mixing in and alternating with the guitars.
We have songs which are all well composed and performed which bring much variety with a cohesive feel which makes for an album which flows together very well and is a pleasure to listen to.
Wings of Gold gets things underway with a crisp riff, washes of keys and a synth run on top before going in to a jingle-jangle folk style section with a hooky, melodic chorus and the floaty vocal. We have a piano and bass interlude giving way to a heavier section of the big chords, spooky keys and a sublime solo from Neil. Then it’s back to the melodic stuff. An engaging opener with plenty of variation.
Precious Life is an emotional ballad with Neil’s soaring vocal, a couple of well paced solos and lots of luscious synths and keys to prog it up. Quite sublime.
Cry an Ocean reminds me of early Wishbone Ash. The vocal and bass lines sound a bit like vintage Martin Turner. And we have more of the keyboard washes, well placed, effective guitar breaks and a couple of fabulous synth solos. If 1970s Wishbone Ash did synths, Cry an Ocean would have sat well on say Pilgrimage.
Among the Living Dead is the big one at around ten minutes. Big chord washes, chugging riffs, rhythmic drum patterns, keys all going at it. Heavier parts, more Wishbone Ash type vibes. The heaviest song on the album. It has nice changes of pace, guitars and synths going at it and a dramatic extended closing section.
Lonely Waters has a similar feel to Precious Life until about the half way mark. That’s until the guitars and synths come back to rock it up. Neil’s shredding drives up a big finish.
There’ll Come a Time has something of an understated feel. A short track though certainly not a filler.
The Secret has a chunky bass to the fore with atmospheric keys and steady drumming. The tempo broods and builds as it ebbs and flows giving an edgy, brooding, darkish feel. Quite hypnotic. Also the trademark guitar/synth interplay is wonderful.
An excellent first solo album from Neil. Like he said in his message to me, the prog with rock and metal influences is very much what’s going on. It’s an engaging and most pleasurable listen.
Hear for it for yourself:
Physical and digital versions from Neil’s BandCamp page:
https://neilwighton.bandcamp.com/album/the-muse-2
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