Album title: Novum
Artist: Procol Harum
Genre: Progressive Rock/Art Rock
Nationality: English
Release date: April 21
Position in Discography: Twelfth
Estimated Rating:
Familiar with this artist? A little
Familiar with the genre or subgenre? Very
Average RYM Score: 3.06
You have to wonder how a band like Procol Harum, surely stuck firmly in the traditions of the progressive rock of the seventies, would deal with the new century. This is, after all, their first album in fourteen years, and though I'm hardly a fan and haven't exactly been keeping up with their releases down the years, I find it hard to believe they've moved with the times and technology like Yes, or diversified into pop territory like Genesis, and I wonder if they might feel a little like fish out of water? Well, we'll see. The opener sounds like a blues rocker, and does have quite the seventies rock feel to it, and “Last Chance Motel” is really good too. However I'd have to say I hear little in the way of prog rock here. If anything, I'm reminded of Kansas. Lots of blues on this, that's for sure.
A real standout is “Soldier”, which may have an unoriginal and in-your-face title, but is a really good insight into the mind of a returning warrior and how he copes with life in “civvy street” and faces the things he has done. At the other end of the scale, “Neighbour” is a funny little tale of jealousy and covetousness, very suburbia. Pachelbel's “Canon in D Major” gets worked into “Sunday Morning”, nice ballad while I hear a lot of
Vulture Culture-era Alan Parsons Project in “Business Man”. Overall, really good album and enjoyed it all. Nowhere close to prog though, not in a million years, no matter how pale the shade of white may be.
Check out more from this artist? Yes, I must
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? What do you think?
Actual Rating:
