Hailing from New Zealand, Jordan Reyne is very much a progressive artist – and yet regressive at the same time. While there are those who might not consider this befitting of the heading of progressive rock, I’d say there has always been a tradition of progressive rock and folk working together. Certainly the music of The Strawbs was a classic example, but even Yes flirted with folk at times (think especially of The Yes Album) and Renaissance certainly had a folk element. There is a good deal of goth built into this and it’s all moody and dark. Still, there are fair comparisons to Porcupine Tree to be made. Whatever the particular formula that creates this sound, though, it is an incredibly powerful album. Apparently it was released in 2009. Had I heard it that year it would have without question made my list of best for the year. This is probably going to remain one of my favorite albums for a very long time. It works that well.

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2011  Volume 2 at lulu.com/strangesound.

Acoustic guitar melded with gentle vocals create a potent and mellow cut that’s quite pretty and understated. Around the two minute mark some other layers come over the top to complement the sound. Even with the added layers, which don’t rise very far or stay very long, this is essentially a folk tune. Still, it’s not that far removed from the kinds of music a lot of folk prog bands did in the day.