Pareidolon – The Unattainable Shore (Shine Productions, 2025)
Pareidolon was formed in 2015 in Nelson, BC under bassist–composer Lachlan Tocher, whose virtuosic, inventive, and emphatically progressive command of the bass anchors everything here. The influences are obvious, players who defined progressive rock bass.
The Unattainable Shore was recorded in Vancouver and envisioned as a loose concept about striving and falling short. The music leans heavily on chugging hard rock and prog-metal muscle, which often overwhelms the band’s more nuanced instincts.
“In A Distant Orbit” sets the stakes with distorted electric guitar and swelling keyboards before slipping into pastoral flute and acoustic guitar, then an electric guitar passage makes room for Brittany’s emotive vocals. Regretfully, the persistent hard rock surge that follows lacks interest until the Gilmour-styled guitar solo arrives just on time.
“Emotional Tides (The Unattainable Shore)” shows Genesis-like bass like, Crimson-worthy time signatures, folk-styled vocals, mesmerizing synths, and a brief distorted vocal. The recurring riff returns and lingers longer than it should, even with a clever jazz detour.
“Ghost Ship” starts with voice over prog-metal riffing, eases back into a calmer vocal passage with Mellotron glow, then barrels again into metal territory.
“Invasion, Part III: Return To Earth” reaches for radio with punchy hard rock guitars and a sing-along hook.
“Exhaust/Manic” sprints into full-tilt prog-metal, carving out a tight jazz-rock break midstream. The celestial choir moment soars, though the metal barrage crowds what could have been a more enjoyable section.
“Voie Aérienne” stretches to twenty-four minutes and carries the album’s grandest statement. The opening leans too heavily on hard rock, yet the colorful organ provides captivating interplay with Tocher’s muscular bass. Midway you find psychedelic synths, a well-built epic guitar solo, and beautiful layered vocals.
“The Ebb And Flow Of Heartache” closes with crystalline piano and hushed vocals, swelling gradually toward a measured crescendo of electric guitar before a solemn fade.
Musicians: Brittany Kelleron vocals; Ashley Pearce on guitars, vocals; Anna Katarina on piano, organ, synthesizers, vocals; Lachlan Tocher on bass, guitars, synthesizers, vocals; and Aybars Savat on drums, percussion, vocals.
Guests: Davis Yates on- guitars, vocals; Jonathan Kwak on vocals; Derek Sherinian on organ/synthesizer solos; Baard Kolstad on drums; Sophie D’Orleans on flute, spoken word; Camilo Ruiz on acoustic guitar; David Tocher on spoken word; Connor Robinson on spoken word; Emilaea Woodwolf on spoken word; Rowell Castillo on spoken word; and Stephan Jozsa on spoken word.
Produced by Shine Productions
Recorded by Lachlan Tocher and Aybars Savat at Apricot and Blue Light studios in Vancouver, Canada
Mixed and mastered by Lachlan Tocher
Drums on track 2 recorded by Baard Kolstad in Norway
Cover artwork painted by Jordan Weiss
Band logo designed by Amun Grewall
Photography by Jake Friedrich
Art direction and layout design by Lachlan Tocher
Track list:
- In A Distant Orbit (6:24)
- Emotional Tides (The Unattainable Shore) (10:35)
- Ghost Ship (4:22)
- Invasion, Part III: Return to Earth (5:13)
- Exhaust/Manic (6:33)
- Voie Aérienne (24:22)
- The Ebb and Flow of Heartache (8:43)