Until I got my grubby little paws on To Follow Polaris I’d not come across The Tangent before.
For that I have to thank Simon from For The Lost PR who got in touch suggesting I might like To Follow Polaris and kindly sent me a review copy.
A quick look-see to find out a bit about The Tangent I discovered that they’ve been around for a while, their previous albums seem popular based on a few reviews I checked out and that To Follow Polaris is The Tangent “for one” as it is in all but name a solo album from the band’s main protagonist Andy Tillison who takes care of everything here – lyrics, music, all instrumentation, production. The whole nine yards indeed.
Not knowing what to expect on giving the CD an initial spin I was most pleasantly surprised to discover a fine slab of accessible and expansive album of what is generally fresh, modern progressive rock yet building in all sorts of other elements such as melodic bits, funky bits, jazzy bits and weird yet enjoyable bits all making an engrossing listen and a proper “grower”.
The North Sky is a fine start. Eleven minutes of jaunty, catchy and melodic prog rock featuring superb flowing keyboard, organ and synth work, a foot-tapping funky bass line and some interesting jazzy bits. Very accessible too. Check it out:
A Like in the Darkness is a little slower and moodier with the vocal approach reminding me of Peter Hamill in one of his quieter moods and the music at times – especially the mid-section with the off beat jazzyish parts making it sound to me rather like Van Der Graaf. And me being a long time VDG fan that’s not a bad thing in my book.
The Fine Line brings more enjoyable variation being sort of catchy prog with a retro-1970s feel to it which leads up to to majestic twenty minute musical adventure which is The Anachronism.
This is a remarkable piece of music. Superb and expansive progressive rock seamlessly building in so many other genres and time changes along the way it’s dizzying. Mostly prog yet part driving prog metal, part jazzy, part just about everything else. All so well written and performed and the type of epic which reveals more on each listen.
The fun doesn’t end there though. There’s also The Single, which is nice and catchy, and a shorter “radio edit” version of The North Sky.
And if you get the limited edition media book thingy you also have the meandering seventeen minute instrumental titled Tea at Bettys. This is a fun one having a spontaneous improvisation feel.
Starts off like laid back light jazzy lounge music for a few minutes before transitioning in to a frantic mid section something like a mixture of Frank Zappa jamming with mid-1970s Van Der Graaf Generator and back again.
I like To Follow Polaris plenty. My thanks again to Simon from For the Lost for the review copy.
The album has much to offer and delivers being so varied in style making it much more than your “traditional” prog rock album. Gets a big thumbs up.
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