Mostly Autumn, one of my favorite British bands, is back with a new album, Graveyard Star, being released September 24th, 2021. The album is full of, as the band states it, “a deep, heartfelt reflection of how we were feeling through 2020/2021. It is like a band documentation of living through the pandemic. Although a lot of the sadness and otherworldliness was personal to us, I’m sure many will relate to the content. There was simply no other inspiration present, only to write and put into music life as we felt it. We truly believe that the song-to-song strength of this work could be our finest to date, it has been 18 months in the making and the longest studio schedule we have ever experienced.”
The band brought in excellent guests for this presentation, including: Troy Donockley of Nightwish and Chris Leslie of Fairport Convention.
This album is definitely a contender for progressive album of the year. In fact, for me it is the top progressive album, as of September 2021. A classic example of the kind of progressive music I grew up with, absolutely spellbinding, in every way.
The dual lead vocal of Bryan Josh and his wife, Olivia Sparnenn Josh, are the best duo in progressive rock right now. Two wonderful voices that support each other in every way. Although the vocals are killer, the music on this album is absolutely unforgettable.
The opener and title track, “Graveyard Star”, is powerful and emotionally well felt music. The magical keyboard work will lift you up and bring shivers to your senses. The flute music is awe-inspiring. The violins and strings, along with the heavy electric guitars and bass are brilliant at creating a complete soundscape. The drumming is solid and well-paced. Off to a wonderful start. Perfect fireside fall music. When Bryan and Olivia sing together it represents the highlight of the song, and maybe the album.
“The Plague Bell”, is the perfect ghostly seascape. The imagery in the music is lifelike. Simply perfect. The lightning, thunder, and the crashing seas are perfect; along with the clanging of the bell. Bryan delivers a frightful return home, on troubled seas. Play this one with a candle burning in the dark, for best effect.
“Skin of Mankind”, opens like a Johnny Cash, country-western. That western, big, bold sound of the guitar, bass, and drums is the perfect opening, for a tale. Olivia takes the lead vocals, despite expecting Bryan. She sings, “Here is the skin of all of mankind. Here’s the leaves I hold in my hand. Here is the world you used to know. Here is where you stand right now. Make it home in your darkest hour. And I may just save your soul”. A powerful lyric and song, like an ancient folkloric story, full of wonderful pipes, drums, strings and electric guitar.
“Shadows”, sounds like a Jethro Tull acoustic song, right out Minstrel in the Gallery, at its opening. Then, the powerful bass and lead electric guitar enter the room, bringing powerful drums and an acoustic guitar as well. A thumping, brooding ‘Tull piece that would bring a smile to Ian’s face, upon hearing.
“The Harder that You Hurt”, opens with Olivia’s beautiful voice, singing deep lyrics of strength, with acoustic and some electric guitar playing slowly. This is an absolutely perfect showcase for Olivia’s voice. A moody, bluesy electric guitar solo, in the middle is a wonderful surprise. Olivia’s voice lifts to demonstrate her powerful range, after the quiet opening.
“Razor Blade”, is a slow played acoustic guitar and keyboards instrumental, at its opening. Olivia sings about leaden clouds as piano, acoustic guitar, bass, electric guitar and drums build to an instrumental symphony, complete with synthesizer magnum opus. Bryan takes over lead vocals for a while, then they join together to sing one of the best songs on the album. “Take me off the razor blade. Put me in the sun and shade, for hours at a time”. Then Olivia sings the climax, “Let me go!’ Wow!
“This Endless War”, opens with cool synthesizers, bold keyboards, and bass. Deep, dark strokes of genius and notes. Olivia sings one of the best songs of the year. The lyrics are tremendous and emotional, as you would expect from a song with this title. Her vocals are historic. Easily one of the best songs of the year. Olivia sings, “I know it seems hard. These times will fade like a graveyard star. I might have been the answer to your call. I’d chase the wolves right from your door, and bring you home. You’ll always be the answer to my call. Just take my hand cause I understand this endless war”. Yes, powerful.
“Spirit of Mankind”, opens with massively powerful synthesizers and keyboards along with thumping drums. Building anticipation, as Olivia sings, “You shut the boarders down. These days are filled with best of us. These days are filled with worst of us. These days are filled with the mighty spirit of mankind”. A fight song for humankind to overcome this horrible global pandemic.
“Back in These Arms”, opens with slow, soft keys and Olivia singing. Flutes and pipes with percussion and synthesizers a plenty. An awesome opening, for sure. Then a heart-pumping beat, with pipe – organ – like synths and a vision of the future, beyond the pandemic’s grasp. A glorious celebration of what might be.
“Free to Fly”, opens with a beautiful and hopeful melody on piano. Olivia sings the beautiful freeing lyrics. A dreamlike wonderland lullaby. Sit back and enjoy.
“The Diamond”, opens with cool acoustic guitar and soft percussion. Olivia sings, “Is the promise eternal. The grass beneath the mountain snow. Can a sadness be brought here? Pressed and hard and into stone. Cast away on the water. To sink into the deep unknown”.
“Turn Around Slowly”, is the longest track on the album and full of powerful piano and orchestration at its opening. There hangs an almost Supertramp, “Fools Overture”, pause…at the opening. Then, Bryan sings, “Turn around slowly, before we say goodbye. We’ve been looking down for far too long”, as the band pounds out the melody, full of guitar, bass, drums, keyboards and orchestration. The mid-section will bring back all your memories of Genesis and IQ, and it is very beautiful sounding. A very dramatic and seminal type of song, bound for glory and this year’s top ten list for prog artists. Would be great to see this one played live. No doubt, the last song on every setlist.
This band delivers the feeling, fears, and the changing season, that is autumn, in their music and words. They do it so well, that I always feel the summer ending in their songs, and the serious time of quiet reflection, with the longer, darker nights available to reclaim the highs and lows of the year preceded. Fall is always a great time to take stock of what has past and use the knowledge learned to hopefully do better in the next year. Every track on this record is a great story of persistence, in the face of evil and the war against this callous pandemic, and time in general.
Track List
- Graveyard Star – 12:05
- The Plague Bell – 2:01
- Skin of Mankind – 4:28
- Shadows – 4:14
- The Harder that You Hurt – 4:33
- Razor Blade – 7:05
- This Endless War – 6:50
- Spirit of Mankind – 4:56
- Back in These Arms – 6:27
- Free to Fly – 3:50
- The Diamond – 6:01
- Turn Around Slowly – 12:40
I would love for them to translate the songs. I have followed this band for several years. And I publish in my Progressive Rock music community, through a Social Network. I love them. Buenos Aires, Argentina