Rock

Steven Wilson
The Overview
Fiction SW8CD; LP: SW8V

A lot is expected of Steven Wilson. He’s revered as the vocalist and guitarist of neo-prog rock band Porcupine Tree, and an in-demand remixer of classic albums, but his solo work has attracted a baffling amount of criticism, from it being too commercial to too full of detail. The Overview is split into two 20-minute tracks. ‘Objects Outlive Us’ is the more successful. The song sections carry a hint of Beatles and Bowie as Wilson details everyday activity in the context of something much bigger, and these are linked by dramatic instrumental passages. The title track is more electronic and Wilson views our ‘existential mystery’ from a cosmic perspective. Musically and lyrically rich, this is one for the naysayers! MB

Sound Quality: 90%

Cymande
Renascence
BMG 964121222; LP: 964121241

Cymande formed in London in 1971 by musicians who all hailed from the Caribbean. Influential to the cognoscenti they remained generally overlooked until the 2022 documentary film, Getting It Back. They called their music ‘nyah-rock’, a heady and inspired mix of funk, rock, reggae and jazz, and the rejuvenated group’s second album since 1974 features the kind of string and wind arrangements that hallmarked ’70s psychedelic soul by artists such as Isaac Hayes. Cymande look back to that golden age, but the horn-powered ‘How We Roll’ features a guest rap by Soul II Soul’s Jazzie B, and their new music sounds universal rather than nostalgic. MB

Sound Quality: 85%

Immersion With Suss
Nanocluster Vol.3
Swim WM59CD; LP: VWM59LP

Immersion is the electronica alias of Wire guitarist Colin Newman and Malka Spiegel who plays bass with him in Githead. Here they collaborate with ambient country group SUSS, which yields a fascinating and original mix of drones, sequencers and synthetic rhythms woven with acoustic and pedal steel guitar – and plaintive harmonica on the lush, spacey ‘Cross Pollination’. Some of it evokes memories of Daniel Lanois’ guitar playing on the 1983 ambient classic Apollo: Atmospheres And Soundtracks. Spiegel sweetly sings a couple of songs and the ensemble move from evoking starry desert skies to achieving mesmeric momentum on ‘State Of Motion’. MB

Sound Quality: 85%

The Horrors
Night Life
Fiction THEHORRORS666J; LP: THEHORRORS666F

The Horrors’ lineup has changed significantly in recent years, leaving bassist Rhys Webb and vocalist Faris Badwan as musical directors. Night Life was recorded in LA and stylistically the opening ‘Ariel’ lands in between the Gothic shoegaze of 2011’s Skying – which won awards and defined their early career – and the industrial strength blasts of 2021’s Against The Blade EP. They were keen to not smooth over any rough edges – this is melodic, dark and sleek with drums and crunchy synthetic rhythms, while new keyboard player Amelia Kidd adds depth and texture. The more meditative, spacey drift of ‘Lotus Eater’ adds an air of poignancy. MB

Sound Quality: 80%