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Progland was founded by John Gabbard in 2005. It's purpose has been to provide you, the music community with the latest music and dvd reviews. It will continue to be your link to the most popular music reviews in the progressive world.

 

(Mostly Autumn) - "Go Well Diamond Heart"

Reviewed by:

"Philip Wooldridge"- (Ravenheart Music)

Genre:
(Female Fronted) {Rock/Symphonic-Metal}-(Music)
Country:
England
Length:
See Below
Release Date:
November 23, 2010
Band Members: Bryan Josh / lead vocals, lead and rhythm guitars, acoustic guitars Olivia Sparnenn / lead vocals, tambourine
  Iain Jennings / keyboards, piano, Hammond organ Andy Smith / bass
  Gavin Griffiths / drums Anne-Marie Helder / vocals, flute, keyboards, acoustic guitar
  Liam Davison / electric and acoustic guitars, vocals
  Guest musicians: - Troy Donockley / Uilleann pipes, whistles on CD1 (1, 6, 8) Marc Atkinson / choir and backing vocals on CD1 (1, 8)
     
 
(CD) - (1) - (General Release) - (49:55)
(CD) - (2) - (Special Edition Only) - Total Time - (43:53)
Track Listing: 1.)-For All We Shared (Josh) (7:18) 1.)-The Sound Of The World (Josh) (5:07)
  2.)-Violet Skies (Josh) (4:07) 2.)-High (Josh / Sparnenn) (3:45)
  3.)-Deep In Borrowdale (Josh) (6:53) 3.)-67-79 (Josh) (5:25)
  4.)- Something Better (Josh) (3:56) 4.)- Anything At All (Josh) (5:14)
  5.)-Go Well Diamond Heart (Josh) (7:52) 5.)- Ice (Josh / Jennings) (7:24)
  6.)-Back To Life (Josh / Sparnenn) (6:25) 6.)-Hats Off (Josh) (6:46)
  7.)- Hold The Sun (Sparnenn / Josh) (5:48) 7.)-Forever Young (Sparnenn / Josh) (5:06)
  8.)-And When The War is Over (Josh / Sparnenn) (7:32) 8.)-Days Of Our Love (Josh) (5:02)

Review:

Before I start the review I will have to admit to bias, I am a massive Mostly fan and believe it is criminal that they are not stars with their blend of Fleetwood Mac/Deep Purple/Pink Floyd/Steeleye Span classic rock. Their 2003 album Passengers is one of my top 5 of all time, led by the creative trio of founder, guitarist and singer Brian Josh, keyboarder Iain Jennings, and the goddess Heather Findlay. Since then Iain left to form his own band Breathing Space, although he returned later he is now merely like a session man, the difference is very noticeable. Then the news broke like thunder early in 2010, Heather was leaving. This has left Brian as the sole songwriter and creative force, with lovely Olivia Sparnenn being promoted from backing to lead singer, she was also confusingly lead vocalist with Breathing Space, but has now resigned that post. It is therefore not surprising that I approached this new release with some trepidation. They also have Panic Room lead singer, solo artist, flautist, keyboard player and guitarist Anne-Marie Helder in their ranks, but sadly she only plays a supporting role. There is a limited edition double version but I will be dealing with the single album general release. It opens with a brace of classic melodic rock Mostly tracks, 'For All We Shared', which reminds me of the Alan Parsons Project, and 'Violet Skies'. Brian takes the mike for the next two rockers 'Deep in Borrowdale', which brings to mind Bachman Turner Overdrive, and 'Something Better', then the stomping title track 'Go Well Diamond Heart' which is almost symphonic metal.

It is notable that several songs have, unusually for Mostly, a political edge, in particular the war in Afghanistan. The soaring ballad 'Back to Life' is one of the three songs featuring regular guest Troy Donockley on uilleann pipes, some of you will know him from his appearance in 'The Islander' and 'Last of the Wilds' by Nightwish. Brian decides to keep his solo short and not to go off on one of those endless rambles. 'Hold the Sun' is another classic rock track, and it ends with the epic, moving waltz 'And When the War is Won', a truly great Mostly song. Olivia does a really good job, but she has quite a catsuit to fill, and perhaps Brian could have given a couple of his songs to Anne-Marie to sing with her powerful expressive voice. I would call this a safe Mostly album, without the prog, folk and some of the magic and delightful eccentricities of the past, but this is still an excellent record by anyone's standards, and if you're new to the band, the album will have none of the baggage us long term fans are carrying, so a diamond 8.75 out of 10.

 

 

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