Now in a Minute is the second studio album by The Mighty Ra. The follow-up to their excellent debut from 2022 All Secrets Known.
In my review of All Secrets Known, I described it as: “A glorious progressive rock based set of songs mixing in elements of classic and melodic rock too. It’s a bit special and so well composed and performed.”
If anything, Now in a Minute goes beyond that and is generally heavier. Lots of varied and chunky riffs, washes of sound and spectacular guitar work, glorious keyboards and sythns swirling around and, er, in synch, with the guitar.
Lovely fluid bass lines and consistent, crisp drumming always there. Nice vocals and intelligent lyrics too. This album’s got the lot. Such an interesting listen and so well composed.
My thanks to guitarist/vocalist Andy Edwards for tipping me off about it and sending me a review copy.
Gods of Reality comes out of the traps with a brisk intro before the huge washes of guitar and keys making for a big, atmospheric sound. The hooky chorus will draw you in. There’s a weird mid section leading to a spectacular second half which includes sublime solo work from Edwards.
Mr. Disingenuous starts of sort of jazzy and funky then alternates with the big, chunky, heavy riff. The guitar and keys/synths merge superbly and we have another catchy, melodic chorus. This one’s a real grower of a song.
New Wheel comes in heavy with the guitar and organ then a jaunty bass line developing in to a chunky rocker. The riff pushes things along. A tasty synth break appears and Edwards lets rip soloing. The organ parts made me think of Uriah Heep.
The Eastern-tinged Sakura, like New Wheel, is another chunky, heavy one with a Heep style feel. So catchy too. More glorious guitar histrionics and flowing synths.
Fashoda and Last Night on Earth retain the heavier momentum with Last Night on Earth surprising with a bit of saxophone.
Revolution is both jaunty and catchy. More or less a “traditional” heavy melodic rocker with purpose, a quirky riff, prominent keys and synth runs.
Then the closer – Stories of Old. An acoustic-based approach for this one. Quite folksy. Bits of tinkling piano and a snare drum as the song broods and builds slowly in to an atmospheric ballad which is quite haunting. The second half breaks out in to instrumental territory as Edwards again puts in yet more spectacular guitar.
A stunning album of well composed, varied, generally heavyish material which mixes elements of progressive, heavy, melodic and classic rock.
I couldn’t find any videos to slot in. As the album was released only a few days ago perhaps the band hasn’t done any as yet.
Instead – on the Band Camp page I found link to embed so you can have a listen. Here is it:
Pick it up from the Mighty Ra’s BandCamp page:
https://themightyra.bandcamp.com
Digital and physical formats available.
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