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In 2007 the six-piece UK formation The Reasoning released
their debut-album entitled Awakening, to me it still sounds
as very pleasant and accessible modern progressive rock with
tasteful colouring by the guitar and keyboards, my highlight
is the long and compelling final composition featuring Marillion
guitarist Steve Rothery who delivers his trademark of the
early Marillion years: a moving solo with howling runs. -
One year later The Reasoning has released the successor
entitled Dark Angel (running time at about 50 minutes), the
sound is in the vein of Awakening but more dynamic and varied.
The alternating first track Dark Angel sounds very exciting,
from fat and propulsive guitar riffs with bombastic keyboards
and mellow with twanging acoustic guitar, soaring keyboards
and sensitive electric guitar to a spectacular final part
with bombastic keyboards, vocal harmonies and a fiery guitar
solo. It’s a strong start of a strong album with nine elaborate
compositions that deliver lots of pleasant moments and interesting
musical ideas: strong and varied guitar work (including use
of volume pedal) in Sharp Sea, a synthesizer – and acoustic
guitar solo in Call Me God?, fiery and howling guitar runs
in the compelling In The Future and strongly build-up Breaking
The 4th Wall (also wonderful interplay between warm piano
and fiery electric guitar) and fluent shifting moods in the
excellent final composition A Musing Dream, from compelling
with powerful guitar and flashy synthesizer flights and dreamy
with acoustic rhythm guitar, piano and duo-vocals to an exciting
bombastic second part featuring synthesizer runs, harmonica
and howling guitar, goose bumps! A special element in The
Reasoning is again the attention for the omnipresent vocals,
from female and male to duo-vocals, this gives a very accessible
touch to the music and reminds me of bands like Magenta and
Mostly Autumn. -
I am sure many progheads will be delighted about this
melodic and accessible modern progrock album that contains
very strong guitarwork, tasteful keyboards, pleasant vocals
and a good balance between dreamy and bombastic climates,
recommended!
www.progwalhalla.com
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