Long Earth is a progressive rock band based in Glasgow. An Ordinary Life is the band’s recently released third album.
My thanks to vocalist Martin Haggarty for sending me a copy of the CD and to AC at Bad Dog Promotions who may have prompted Martin to do so.
Bad Dog has a healthy number of interesting artists on their books, including Long Earth.
An Ordinary Life is a themed album dealing with, as the title suggests, what life in general means for us.
If I may take a quote from their web site to illustrate what the songs cover – including: growing up, leaving home, finding a place in society, having hopes & dreams, finding a partner, political upheaval, war, family, ageing & loss.
The “circle of life” if you will……
Intelligent, descriptive and thought provoking lyrics cover the themes. Musically it is quite a wide-ranging and engaging listen bringing in generally melodically inclined prog though there are some nicely beefed up symphonic elements and tasteful guitar parts along the way.
The ten minute opener of Fight the Hand That Bleeds You being a case in point. A big thumping keyboard based opening salvo to begin with opening further in to the song which ebbs and flows throughout including tasty guitars, a constant rhythm section and a measured, melodic vocal with a memorable hook. Classy stuff in the vein of say Pendragon as a comparison.
Have a listen:
Morpheus and Life slow things down a little both being more gentle in their approach. Gives me a hint of a jazzy undertow and the gentle piano on Life.
Sand ups the ante again. Big guitar riffing and soloing in a song which is quite bombastic in how it is delivered. Shadows follows in style being quite emotional ad atmospheric as it stretches out nicely as does The Arc.
Moscow comes in as a fiery, full on symphonic prog rock monster full of swelling keys and everything else it needs.
Then Empty Shore closes out a fine album in fine style being all sorts of slow burning and brooding atmospherics to draw in the listener.
Around an hour of varied, thought provoking and very well performed melodic/symphonic prog – and enjoyable to boot! Thanks again to Martin and AC for the review copy.
You can acquire An Ordinary Life from Long Earth’s BandCamp page:
https://longearth.bandcamp.com/album/an-ordinary-life
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