Year : 2023
Style : Progressive Rock
Country : Belgium
Audio : 320 kbps + front
Size : 129 mb
Bio:
The Belgian progressive rock formation Fish On Friday made an impressive return with their third album "Godspeed".The new studio album contains 11 brand new songs, including titles such as "Callin 'Planet Home", "Just A Nightmare," "Ghost Song," "Sanctuary" and the 10-minute title track "Godspeed".In the studio recording the band was of excellent guest musicians such as Nick Beggs (Steven Wilson, Life Signs, Steve Hackett) and Theo Travis (Steven Wilson, Robert Fripp) support.The reaction to “Shoot the Moon” was encouraging enough for the band to embark on performing several live shows in Belgium, before embarking on their second album, “Airborne”, which gained a wider audience and sales by receiving airplay on mainstream Belgian radio alongside specialist Progressive Rock stations globally. “Airborne” also featured the virtuoso bass player Nick Beggs (Steven Wilson band, Steve Hackett band, Lifesigns) on the track “Welcome”, an experience that led to Nick officially becoming a member of Fish on Friday for the band’s new (and arguably most Progressive) album “Godspeed”. This stunning album features a grasp of melody on songs such as “Callin’ Planet Home”, “Just a Nightmare”, “Ghost Song”, “Sanctuary” and the album’s epic ten minute title track. “Godspeed” also features a special guest, Theo Travis, the virtuoso saxophonist and flautist noted for his work with Steven Wilson, Soft Machine Legacy, Robert Fripp, Gong, Bill Nelson et al. All in all “Godspeed” is a Progressive rock album of fine songs, excellent musicianship and is the eagerly anticipated next step in the story of Fish on Friday.
Album:
Although originally founded in 2009 by Belgium duo Frank Van Bogaert (keyboards and vocals) and Marcus Weymaere (drums) Fish On Friday have over the years become a truly international group. Recruiting American guitarist Marty Townsend for 2012’s Airborne album and Britain’s go to bass maestro Nick Beggs (Mute Gods/Lifesigns/Steven Wilson/Steve Hackett/Howard Jones etc.) for 2014’s Godspeed (Beggs also took a guest spot on Airborne). Their first studio album since Black Rain three years ago will be arriving imminently and once again finds Van Bogaert taking the production chair a place where he is more than comfortable but on 8mm he is for the first time ably assisted by Mr. Beggs as a co-producer, a collaboration which Van Bogaert has more than welcomed.This, their sixth album, deals with the concept of nostalgia and continues the familiar Fish On Friday sound which combines the classic Camel, Alan Parson Project influences with the more modern, mainstream prog sounds (if there is such a thing) generated by Steven Wilson, Marillion etc. The nostalgic concept is hammered home initially by the lyrical themes of the title-track (home movies) and ‘Collateral Damage’ (looking back on past relationships) before taking an alternative more direct angle on the nostalgia trip on the ‘Overture to Flame/Flame’ duo which takes a pretty carbon copy cover version of the art rockers Metro’s track from 1976 with its Spanish guitar and soft breathy vocals fitting very well alongside the Pink Floyd style opening pair. ‘Jump This Wall’ carries things in the kind of progressive, pop, electronica direction made popular on recent releases by the like of Mr. Wilson, RPWL and ESP throwing saxophone and flute into the mix to add to the pleasingly lush arrangement. As the lyrics proclaim, it sounds like they’re “having a ball”. The pace stays high as Knopfler style guitar introduces ‘Don’t Lose Your Spirit’, a real show piece for Townsend’s versatile playing before everything takes a bleak turn with the elegiac quality of ‘Funerals’. Having said that despite its moribund outlook for me this is an absolute highlight with it’s sombre words and soaring guitar. Seven minutes of exquisite storytelling and ever changing mood swings. Another standout is the uplifting ‘Silently Raging’ which with the addition of female vocals is given a huge lift. The same has to be said for the effect of the broken vocal chorus during ‘Instillers’ where Begg’s distinctive bass is mesmerising. Beggs somehow always manages to shine without dominating and that is precisely where his impact lies for the entirety of his performance throughout 8mm. It is no wonder that he has become such a sought after player. The acoustically driven ‘A New Home’ transports us back to a circa A Momentary Lapse Of Reason Floydian world before Fish On Friday bow out in a more pastoral mood with the concluding track ‘Life is Like the Weather’.I have to hold my hands up and state that on my first listen to 8mm I found it a little bit underwhelming however as you will see from my comments after repeated spins it totally comes alive taking on a character of its own and leaving behind the obvious influences enclosed. Give this release a little extra time and space and you will be rewarded. Intelligent, atmospheric and thought provoking, if not instant. Fish On Friday are one of those bands who seem to create a great deal of interest when new product is release but then fade away into the background due to the lack of live exposure and continued promotion. Hopefully 8mm will see a different approach and find FOF maintaining their profile to generate the exposure that they deserve.
Line-Up:
Nick Beggs / bass, Chapman Stick, backing vocals, producer
Frank Van Bogaert / vocals, keyboards, guitars, producer
Marcus Weymaere / drums & percussion
Marty Townsend / guitars
+ guests:
Lulu Beggs / vocals
Sofi Dykmans / vocals
Theo Travis / flute
Tracklist:
01. 8mm
02. Collateral Damage
03. Overture To Flame
04. Flame
05. Jump This Wall
06. Don't Lose Your Spirit
07. Funerals
08. Silently Raging
09. Instillers
10. A New Home
11. Life Is Like The Weather
Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/
