THE FAR CRY – If Only (2021)
Formed by experienced musicians, THE FAR CRY is a new American neo / melodic prog rock group presenting their debut album “If Only“, a varied piece of work taking influences from the classic style of the genre with a refreshing, updated melodious sound.
Jeff Brewer (lead / backing vocals, bass, synths) and Robert Hutchinson (drums) started to make music together in the Seventies at a very young age. And in the Eighties the duo was part of the highly acclaimed USA prog band Holding Pattern.
Now these seasoned and talented musicians joined again, steadily evolved the band sound over time (including the extended pandemic period), and have finally produced their debut album, ”If Only”. It’s not your typical progressive concept LP, but a colorful set of songs with different atmospheres and duration, making them an enjoyable and eclectic listening experience individually.
The songs are built around the dynamic, alternating and powerful rhythm section (Robert on drums and Jeff on bass), embellished with inventive work on keyboards and Bryan Collin’s guitars.
‘The Mask Of Deception’ features fiery and sensitive guitar runs, and ‘The Missing Floor’ bombastic eruptions with fat synthesizer flights and heavy guitar riffs. Then there’s the haunting ‘Programophone’ with its growling bass, biting guitar, and unusual vocals.
‘Simple Pleasures’ starts and ends in an AOR atmosphere with strong vocals, in between a tender Grand piano interlude joined by acoustic guitar, then a sumptuous outburst featuring a flashy synthesizer solo, in the end big guitar leads.
The tracks ‘Winterlude’ and ‘Dream Dancer’ showcases the mellow side of the band, the first adding a warm acoustic guitar, simply wonderful, the other one a dreamy work on electric guitar and keyboards.
This is a prog album and we find an epic song, the epic title track close to 17 minutes. First appears a bombastic synth / Mellotron choir sound, then a catchy midtempo topped with rock guitar / keyboard interplay. Next a mellow part with soaring piano and bells, followed by a busy instrumentation, and finally military drums and flute-like synths.
‘If Only’ is a confident, elaborated album by excellent musicians that has a broad range of melodic prog music styles. It doffs its cap to the past, whilst embracing the present, and mixes it all into a singular and varied style. There is a refreshing chameleon-like character across all the eight tracks, with surprises around the corner for any listener, and yet it works as a whole.
Their heart might be in the neo-prog rock of the ’70s and ’80s, but they are not anchored there at all. This is definitely an album worth exploring for people who like their melody and complexity in equal measures.
Highly Recommended
01 – The Mask Of Deception
02 – Programophone
03 – Winterlude
04 – Simple Pleasures
05 – The Missing Floor
06 – Winterlude Waning
07 – If Only
08 – Dream Dancer
Jeff Brewer – lead vocals, bass, guitar
Bryan Collin – guitars
Robert Hutchinson – drums, percussion, vocals
BUY
thefarcry1.bandcamp.com/album/if-only
