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A REVIEW FROM 1997: PARALLEL OR 90 DEGREES Afterlifecycle

An exhilirating offering from an outstanding 'new' English five piece. actually their second album) featuring an intriguing, extravagant title track in 7 parts with some wonderful Andy Tillison Hammond organ throughout and a rousing guitar solo from Graham Young on 'Afterlife What?' Beautiful, thought provoking music with Andy doubling as a very capable vocalist (notwithstanding his role as writer, arranger, producer and engineer!)... a very tight rhythm section (Jonathan Barrett and Lee Duncan) and Sam Baine whose synth settings are inspired eg the opening section of 'Dead On A Car Park Floor' (part 2) 'I Think Therefore Nothing' features some tasteful acoustic guitar from Graham and is a sobering piece about human mortality complete with a voice insert from a Channel 5 documentary on asteroids! 'Run In Rings' finds Andy very much in Peter Hammill vocal mode while the only track that doesn't really work for me is 'Coming Up Roses'- the playing is fine if a bit lightweight but the lyric is rather naive (A warning to the incoming Labout government about not biting the hand that feeds it or something like that!) It was a strange decision to conclude the 'Afterlifecycle' after this track. This graphically illustrates the influence Van Der Graaf Generator has on the band while the first bonus track reveals their other main influence (It's a cover of The Nice's 'Flower King of Flies'). The second bonus cut is an edit of the opening song from their first album and is a mesmerising Hammond driven- guess what VDGG and Nice inspired piece! Only one puzzling thing-the four minutes of silence at the end of my CD copy!
Available on Cyclops Records.Website: http://www.deltamonsoon.demon.co.uk
CAIRO- Conflict and Dreams Opening with the powerhouse 'Angels and Rage' the mesmerising pace hardly relents. Apart from the virtuousic talents of drummer Jeff Brockman and keysman Mark Robertson there is also a melodic side to their music (rooted in U.K.) with excellent vocals from Bret Douglas. Hammond organ is used extensively- check out' Western Desert'. A definite improvement on their 'Cairo' album- repays repeated listening. Recommended.