Pure Reason Revolution – “Eupnea”

Pure Reason Revolution – Eupnea

One of my favorite English bands is Pure Reason Revolution. I was so happy when I first read that they were going to release a new album in 2020. Eupnea turned out to be even better than I could have possibly expected. Eupnea was released on April 3, 2020, and I have been listening to it since mid-summer, when I finally purchased it. I am finally putting pen to paper to review one of this year’s best album releases, Eupnea.

Pure Reason Revolution was originally an English band, they are now operating out of both London UK, and Berlin, Germany, the homes of the two band members, Jon Courtney and Chloë Alper. Their record label is Inside Out Music. They have been making music since 2003, and have released three other full length albums prior to Eupnea; The Dark Third, (2006), Amor Vincit Omnia, (2009), and Hammer and Anvil, (2010).

The band has thinned to two members. Chloë Alper, on vocals, bass, and keyboards; and Jon Courtney, on vocals, guitars and keyboards.

The term eupnea, is a medical state, defined as “Easy, free respiration, as is observed normally under resting conditions”, according to Webster’s Dictionary. The album’s title was chosen from the experience of the birth of Jon Courtney’s daughter, who had trouble breathing from birth, and had to have several medical procedures to finally breathe free.

The album opens with one of its best songs, “New Obsession”. It was the first single released, and it drew me into the album immediately. Good choice PRR, it worked. Those awesome keyboards are some of the best I’ve heard all year. The power of the keyboards, music and Jon and Chloë’s vocal harmony, makes it obvious that this duo had to continue the legacy of this remarkable band. Chloë’s vocal reminds me so much of Kate Bush, that she is, the more than the obvious heir apparent to Kate Bush. “Can you bring help?” Yes, I believe they can.

“Silent Genesis” is one of my favorite songs on this or any PRR album. The music is engaging every minute of the track. It harkens back to the mysterious sound and power of their first album, The Dark Third, and its Pink Floydian likeness. Memories of Animals, Dark Side and Wishing abound. But it is Chloë’s

Kate Bush-like vocals that make this album special to me,. She sings, “Dead where we’re meant to be. Come wind into her, bind in two. You rattled hell but so heavenly. No harm, we’re numb”. It is like the circle re – completed. After all it was David Gilmour who helped introduce Kate Bush to the world.

The keyboard instrumental with drums that begins at about 5 minutes in, could have played all day long. It is amazing at night driving down a city street – Elliott bayside. Try it sometime, if you can. The drums and power guitar chords near the end take me back to “Fight Fire”, from their Hammer and Anvil album…another favorite.

“Maelstrom”, opens with powerful drums and Chloë’s beautiful voice, “Lay here, sleep tight. Shield up airflow high. It’s written in the scars. And it’s late and cold as your hands let go, my love”. Then they bring back a familiar chorus, “It carved the way to ruin dominium, dominium”, similar to the oft repeated refrain of “Bullits Dominae”, from the album, The Dark Third. This album is a constant reminder to me of their best album The Dark Third. It has the same amazing power at every turn.

“Ghosts and Typhoons”, opens with memories of Pink Floyd and PRR’s past. The sound of long swooning guitar chords we remember so well. This time Jon leads on vocals, “And now she’s born and I feel the same. Lovers give and lovers take. And now you’re worn and I feel detained. Welcome my love, come and pace the cage”. His vocals remind me of the Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan, at times like this. Along with Chloë’s vocal harmony, the sound is amazing. The lead electric guitar at 6 minutes in, is one of the best on the album. The drum and keyboard sounds near the end are also amazing. Like a train running through a tunnel at night, at full bore.

“Beyond Our Bodies”, is the quietest and calmest song at its beginning. Jon and Chloë sing, creating harmony, just like they did on The Dark Third, “I need you all the time inside you deeper. Cold, your cold desire and now your lethal turn. Burn the lighter demons. Earth quakes, tonight we see…” Another great song, preparing you for the closer.

“Eupnea”, is the title and final track on the album. It is also a fitting, epic closer and the longest song on the album, at over 13 minutes. Jon and Chloë open singing the word breathe, then “Our tears cast in hope. No mother can’t hide her love. From mother such tides of love. In darker zephyr. Steep savage hill. Pensive we climb”, surrounded by the best keyboard intro on the album. It sounds like coming out of a deep sleep. Just perfect.

If you have not been convinced of Chloë’s power to emulate Kate Bush, her singing of this section should end all doubt, “You’re the beating heart and the blood that binds us. From a fetal start, when the lungs were tired. Now in mother’s arms and the harm’s behind us. Now you’re breathing calm and you cling so fired”. Then the song takes a magnificent and powerful heavy guitar, bass and drumming turn; dramatizing the anguish and horror of re-living the experience of rejuvenating Jon’s daughter’s breathing, surgically induced to recapture her ability to breathe. The lyrics capture the painful, and powerless feeling of the ordeal. Chloë’s back with more exquisite Bush-like vocals, “Breathe, you made it to here. Now please breathe, you made it to here”. It is an amazing closer and one of the best “happy-ending” stories of the year.

This is the perfect re-introduction to Pure Reason Revolution. I hope this is a new beginning which will allow this band to never end. A fantastic album which will be in my top ten albums of the year. We really needed this album during the global pandemic. And the title coincides with the effects the virus has upon the body. Excellent timing…unplanned. The keyboards, guitars, bass and drums are absolutely everything I wanted in a PRR album. It will be hard to eclipse the magnitude of Eupnea. I wish them luck, and anticipate the follow-up with powerful enthusiasm.

Track List

1. New Obsession – 5:07
2. Silent Genesis – 10:20
3. Maelstrom – 5:44
4. Ghosts & Typhoons – 8:46
5. Beyond Our Bodies – 4:28
6. Eupnea – 13:23

https://www.facebook.com/purereasonrevolution/

https://purereasonrevolution.bandcamp.com/

https://www.insideoutmusic.com/artist.aspx?IdArtist=446