Kscope records
I regularly champion local artists on my weekly radio show – and at times, I’ll admit this means playing songs which may not have otherwise made the cut, if judging on the quality of the music alone.
It is therefore a joy when a local band produce an album of such unquestionable quality that I can not only share it with my listeners, but also enjoy repeated listens at home.
It Leads To This, the 16th long player from Yeovil prog-rock stalwarts The Pineapple Thief, is one such record. Bruce Soord (the band’s driving force) has successfully managed to oversee the evolution of the group such that line-up changes have been less a revolving door, and more a gradual refinement and realisation of his creative vision.
Now 25 years into their journey, The Pineapple Thief have produced their tightest, warmest, and most rewarding album yet.
While the eight tracks are given room to breathe, there are no 10-minute slow burners to be found here. Put It Right, the album opener, begins with a simple piano and vocal arrangement before swiftly blossoming into life – a subdued start, but the band are clearly keen to get to the point.
While all is emphatically not well (Soord confesses on Rubicon that there is ‘no hope to be found’ and asks, ‘how could we get it so wrong?’ on the albums’ excellent title track, video below) there is a nobility and defiance on show throughout the album. The confidence and sure-footedness of the arrangements, musical performances and production, contrasted with universal lyrical themes of regret and opportunities lost, create a compelling tension which satisfies all the way to the final, rousing crescendo of cathartic closing track To Forget.
It really has all led to this.
Matthew Ambrose presents Under The Radar on Tuesday evening at 7pm on Abbey104. Broadcasting on 104.7FM and online at abbey104.com.
