a one-off

i wear my influences as a musician on my sleeve, all my favourite and most listened to ones, anyway. however, there is one album that, although i have listened to at most maybe half a dozen times, it seems to keep coming up in my work. the work is beardfish's "+4626-COMFORTZONE". i will be frank in saying progressive rock is not my main interest in music by far, even though i have been surrounded by it all my life and have a decent knowledge of it all. however, something about the melodies and sounds within this one, i suppose, really resonate with me. i claim as such because in my own songs, all of unrelated genre or sound or aesthetic, i often find lines and bits and bobs that remind me of this album.

certainly, most of the sounds in this album are discarded from my mind. it is mostly prog. particularly the bass lines and the vocals i have never re-heard in my own work. and, of course, my reminiscing of this album from what i.... put together is also not incredibly often. but, it is often enough that it warrants attention.

i do recommend this album though. it is absolutely fantastic. i cannot say for the rest of beardfish's work, but this one is trés cool. listening to it entirely- front to back- is necessary, at least for the first listen.

also, if you like that, i highly recommend thank you scientist's "stranger heads prevail" and also their next album "terraformer" (though the latter is not nearly as akin to +4626)(both to also be listened to all the way, in order. it is necessary).

my personal favourite for sure from the album is the title track. the explosion of energy at about... five minutes(?) is so so riveting. also the visceral yell at the beginning of the hammond solo, that particular moment, and the go-through of the chorus right after is just goose-bump causing. the whole instrumentation, the harmonies and rhythms, the tones- they really do it for me in that song. "hold on" or maybe "can you see me now" (the latter reminds me of some songs from 10cc's "deceptive bends" album, of which i am a big big fan) are close seconds, i think. but, they do not carry much weight without the rest of the album. there is not one bad song, not one dull moment. "the one inside part two..." is also very moving, and definitely more in line with what i am more a fan to sound-wise. they certainly found a good melody to be the motivo for this album.

fawkes should def check this out. ikoe, you may like it too, i can't quite tell based on what is on your director's cut blog whether this is irrelevant to you or not... lemme know i guess, haha.

while on the topic of prog, i have a few more recommendations that i find similarities to some parts of the album of discussion-

jumar's "catalan endeavor" (KILLER song, CHILLS every time, a master-class in tension and release, imho)

bent knee's early discography (that is to say up until the "land animal" album)

fall of troy's "doppelganger" album, especially "macauley mcculkin"

goodbye