Is this yet another feeble attempt for a rock dinosaur to make a comeback?
I answer that commonly asked question with a reverberating no! Procol
Harum is back with a new album called The Wells On Fire, and it
sounds like they have not missed a step after all these years. Lead
singer Gary Brooker sounds like he always has and the rest of the
band is right in stride with him.
After a few listens it became clear they did not spread their abilities
it too thin on this release. There is quite a range of music offered
on this CD. I heard a lot of first-rate rock, blues, and progressive
art rock on this steady album. What was nice was that they were able
to mix it up and separate it so the genres are evident to the ear
familiarized with listening to such an amalgamation.
Shadow Boxed is a straight shot with no chaser; it rocks, plain and
simple just as many of the tunes do. I really liked the pragmatic
The Emperor's New Clothes, with ancient fairy tale lyrics reinvented
to fit todays twisted world along with a hefty helping of cynicism
set to a modern beat. We are not talking about satire; this is cold
and calculating realism, very different from songs like Whiter Shade
of Pale of yesteryear. The most impressive track was the one without
vocals. The guitar and organ lead the way with Matthew Fisher (organ)
and Geoff Whitehorn (guitar) stealing the show on Weisselklenzenacht
(The Signature). It packs a powerful punch and it is a stick of rock
dynamite with many explosive twists and turns provided by this disciplined
and experienced unit. Red-hot blues-rock inflected chops populate
the vivid closer with swirling up-tempo organ accompaniments. They
certainly close the curtain with sense of drama and flair.
This is an album well done by one of rocks legendary bands. Although
this is certainly not their best work, their longtime followers will
be very pleased and a newly found audience will surely endeavor to
seek out their back catalog after hearing this album. Yes, there is
still a fire burning in this wellspring of rock music.
1. An Old English Dream (Brooker/Reid) - 4:41
2. Shadow Boxed (Brooker/Reid) - 3:34
3. A Robe of Silk (Brooker/Reid) - 2:43
4. The Blink of an Eye (Brooker/Reid) - 4:42
5. The VIP Room (Brooker/Reid) - 4:55
6. The Question (Brooker/Reid) - 5:01
7. The World Is Rich (Brooker/Reid) - 5:20
8. Fellow Travellers (Fisher/Reid) - 4:47
9. The Wall Street Blues (Brooker/Reid) - 4:26
10. The Emperor's New Clothes (Brooker/Reid) - 4:17
11. So Far Behind (Brooker/Reid) - 3:51
12. Every Dog Will Have Its Day (Brooker/Fisher/Reid) - 5:20
13. Weisselklenzenacht (The Signature) (Fisher) - 5:24
Credits:
Procol Harum - Producer
Gary Brooker - Piano, Vocals
Matthew Fisher - Organ
Geoff Whitehorn - Guitar
Mark Brzezicki - Percussion, Drums
Matt Pegg - Bass
