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"Silhobbit" discovered (Darwin's Radio) way
back in 2005 after a tip off from former The Enid drummer
Steve "Steve" Hughes. We caught them at an informal Sunday
lunchtime gig in Milton Keynes and were blown away by their
musicianship. We sort of raved about their "Pictures" ep.
We raved about their debut album "Eyes Of The World", and
so did you. And so did (IQ) and (Frost), who have each borrowed
a member of the band.***
Now (Declan Burke) and (Mark Westworth) have been given
parole long enough to join up with big bass player Sean
Spear and Tim Churchman on drums, for long enough to record
this, their second album.***
When I first got the CD, I thought that it was just
another sampler, as there was only three tracks on it. But
I was obviously forgetting that I'm a prog-rock reviewer,
and the three tracks spread out to over 44 minutes of prog.***
First track, "The Illusion is Freedom" leaps in with
a jaunty keyboard riff that could make you think of (Frost).
Young Mark is soon joined by the tight rhythm section of
basser Sean and drummer Tim. Not to mention Dec, back doing
what he does best, massaging sounds from his fretboard.
Over the next 20 minutes (nearly) the band entertain us
with a sound that mixes the halycon days of the 70's with
the tight studioness of the 00's to create a truely absorbing
sound.***
The second track "Breathe It In" is a harder edged song,
showing that (Darwin's Radio) are not afraid to mix it up.
Crunching guitars vie with melodic keyboards throughout
this "shorter" track.***
"Age of Broken Reason" brings the album to a close,
and showcases the brilliant drumming of Tim Churchman, recruited
from Rush covers band (Spirit of Radio), and climaxes with
a brilliant piece from Dec.***
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