It's taken a special record to jolt me out of retirement and put finger to keyboard to start my Albums of 2021 series.
Halcyon Hymns is album number 4 (not including last year's live album) for the partnership of Yes/Asia man Geoff Downes and singer songwriter Chris Braide.
With the world in Lockdown, the two musicians found themselves on opposite sides of the world and with Chris looking for a new project as his sessions dissipated in LA, he turned to a set of Musical ideas provided to him by Geoff and so Halcyon Hymns was born. The result of the modern way of recording and producing albums. But with it's heart planted firmly back in those bygone times.
'Beneath the dark cathedral of summertime'
Opening with the dulcet tones of Poet, Barney Ashton-Bullock providing narration with Love Among The Ruins, I am immediately reminded of the Moody Blues glorious Days Of Future Passed - reinforced by the lovely 12 string of guitarist Dave Bainbridge and a Bach like keyboard wash we are immediately taken back in time. The lyrics equally nostalgic for beautiful days gone by. Chris Braide remains in fine voice throughout the album and multilayers harmonies galore in a fabulous chorus. Indeed Dave Bainbridge's guitar work must get a special mention here and well done to the two leaders, keyboard players both, in giving Dave the opportunity and space to shine, which he does with spectacular results, just like the closing solo the this opening track.
I may say right now that following their two live shows at Trading Boundaries, this is the most 'Band' sounding of all of the four albums. Such a shame lockdown robbed us of some more live shows. But with both leaders now living back in the UK, it could well be a very tasty proposition once all this lockdown is over. Don't forget Wales fellas.
Love Among The Ruins
The 'Band' is made up of Geoff, Chris, Dave with Andy Hodge on Bass and Ash Soan on drumming duties, all playing with a verve and subtly that enhances the music beautifully.
Next track up is King Of The Sunset which slows down the pace. Very Floydian in places it wafts in with the dual voices of Chris and the returning David Longdon of Big Big Train who once again lends his fabulous vocals to another DBA album.
The imagery in the lyrics continue to highlight the Sun. Overall, although not a concept album, the Sun raises its light continuously throughout the album.
'The land is forever, of orchards and groves'
Barney Ashton-Bullock
Your Heart Will Find The Way is one of the more Rock tracks on the album - and if it had the late John Wetton on vocals, it could sit pretty well on the majority Asia albums with a few tweaks. Again it includes some tasty 12 string guitar work and even a few stereo sweeps to keep you on your toes. Very much a single if such things still exist!!
'Over the mountains and under the waves, under the fountains and under the graves'
Holding The Heavens opens like a long lost Trick Of The Tail track before it opens into a lovely summery song. And those guitar phrases could have come right from any of the later Genesis albums. They boys certainly have the ability to pull out a hook when required. Nature once again featuring in the lyrics to add to the overall 'pastoral' feel of the album.
'You're an oak tree growing tall and wild'
Ash Soan
Barney once again introduces the next track, Beachcombers, with prose before before another song of love with imagery of Nature providing a suitable backdrop. This is very much the nearest to modern YES that the album gets, especially in the multi layered vocals.
'Heavens low crouching from up high'
Andy Hodge
The opening of the next track Warm Summer Sun - here's the Sun again - could have come straight from a Nick Drake album as the church bells ring and those sweeping keyboard strings begin the album's highlight ballad. A yearning track seeped in regret and nostalgia. It even includes a guest vocal from 80s Synth Band Soft Cell's Marc Almond on one verse and throughout the track providing harmony vocals to Chris. It ends with more church bells and multi-layered harmonies. It's like an interlude in the running order and works so well.
'My heart is full of raindrops, where once shimmering nights of starlight'
Your Heart Will Find The Way
Today is a straight forward piano based song with echoes of The Beatles - those small vocal harmonies, that 'George' slide guitar and Strawberry Fields organ settings work their magic. Including the magnificent guitar solo and Ah Ahs at the end. We must all at some point, doff our caps to The Masters.
'I'll make the tea and bring your canvas and paints'
Dave Bainbridge
Hymn To The Darkness is a short song with a Cathedral feel both with the layered vocals and keyboard work.
She'll Be Riding Horses immediately lifts the mood. The most immediate 'pop' song on the album, it highlight's both Chris' & Geoff's pop background and the ability to still be able to pen a catchy, commercial song when the mood takes them. It has a lovely musical backdrop including keyboard sweeps and Dave's mandolin - you're almost sitting there clapping your hands along at the end. Fabulous stuff indeed.
Late Summer unapologetically takes us straight back to those warm summer days and Chris accompanies those soft, keyboard sweeps and softer sustained guitar notes with some more gorgeously nostalgic summery 'times gone by' lyrical imagery.
The Tour De Force of the album is now with us - the majestic 11 minute Remembrance - once again introduced by Barney's poetry - it starts off with a quiet section as Chris looks back on past times once again. It's very William Blake, it's very pastoral, it's very English dare I say. It's in this track that Barney really comes into his own. It's elegiac, stately and by God, it's just brilliant and beautiful.
The album closes with a 35 second epilogue - which I'm not going to spoil for you. Suffice to say - it ends exactly as it should. And if you're not crying by now - you have no Soul.
'The smell of summer merging with your sweet perfume'
The album is a gorgeous slice of sunshine and beauty in these dark, demonic times but with some rays of sunlight starting to break through that oppressive bleakness, Halcyon Hymns has come around just at the right time when we can look back on a glorious past and look forward to a brighter future ahead. And whatever your musical leaning, you need a copy of this in your home. Hopefully in the form of the forthcoming vinyl - where you can dive into that Roger Dean world that this whole gorgeous package will come wrapped in for your delight.
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