Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

There is nothing like an album to remind you of many truths that you may hold dear in your short life. When the subtle combination of music and lyrical splendour is able to shake the lethargy that had been creeping in to your existence, of perhaps even a first love, then you know that truth you had held onto for so long and with a vice like grip is absolutely right.

For those that fell in love with Progressive Rock, from it’s infant like state with albums such as Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band to albums such as In The Court of The Crimson King, Animals, Script For A Jester’s Tear and beyond to bands such as The Reasoning and Touchstone, the temptation is far too great to ignore an album of such incredible power as Also Eden’s latest album, the sweeping electrifying nature of Redacted.

If you are fortunate enough to listen to quite a few albums during the year, the feel can range between the jaded and the upmost beauty of discovery, Redacted falls firmly into the latter, so far into the latter’s clutches that like light fighting against a pull of a Black Hole, it will surely stay there forever. The music is just simply phenomenal; it pulls the listener in many different directions but always with the knowledge that at some point it will capture the imagination

From the explosive nature of Red River in which Rich Harding, Si Rogers, Lee Nicholas, Howard Sinclair and Andy Davies all knowingly give their all to the pleasure to come, to the undercurrent of bitterness and poetic nature of Distortion Field, the brilliance of Chronologic and the overwhelming tidal wave feel of Extend and Embrace, this is an album of ferocious courage and daring.

Redacted is an album of incredible warmth, of imaginations allowed free reign in which music, lyrics and beautiful vocals are all bundled up in one.  It also is a wonderful reminder to many of the reason why they fell in love with the genre in the first place.  If ever you feel yourself losing your way and even perhaps slightly out of love with your first desire, put Redacted on, let it seep into your marrow and take heed of what the feeling is after, that is Also Eden.

Ian D. Hall