Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

Progressive rock never became unpopular, it was just misunderstood and shouted over by the angry two-minute epic rant; and in the same way that a novel offering guidance and invaluable reasoning will never be replaced by a well versed tweet, so art will never be found wanting for the album that transcends the earthly and routine in favour of the larger than life classic which struts with grandness, with purpose, and with an ambition to reach more than just a moment of recognition, it requires the humility of the soul to be grabbed as well.

Whilst The Swan Chorus might shyly acknowledge that their leaning and resulting cornucopia of sound is highly addictive and evident in their self-titled release, the high drama of progressive is to be praised, it is abundant, it is a pleasure of responsibility taken seriously, and one to which the fans and the searchers of heroic timing will seize upon and see more than just the actions of a sprint, the race of seconds to deliver a message, this is the paced, inspiring, ruthless battle that comes with completing the marathon…note for note, action for action.

For John Wilkinson, who cut his impressive vocalist teeth with the Genesis tribute sensation, Mama, and David Knowles, Dave Jones, and Peter Dover, The Swan Chorus has the air of requited love, the spinning tale that encases all in its wake, a painting of depth and drama that the resulting piece could easily hang in the finest of museums dedicated to the restless swell of the landscape.

Across tracks such as the opener The Hilary Step, the superb My Dark Passenger, Stand Together, the apt nature of showpiece and presentation in Performance Anxiety, the impressive The House That Jack Built, and the blockbuster finale with costume drama woven delicately and with honour throughout, Walk The Same Road, all leaving their sizeable imprints on the listener’s senses.

In many ways the songs are the product of more than imagination, they have their roots in the metaphysical of albums such as The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway, the offspring if you will living up to their impressive father’s name. It is a credit to the band that the album strides a similar path, one of imagery, of fierceness in bold lyrics, of a sweetness and divine rush of blood to the heart that makes The Swan Chorus beguilingly stimulating and a curiosity worth fighting Pandora herself for when she releases hope into the world.

An album of beautiful excess and feeling, the Progressive stands firm and resolute throughout.

Ian D. Hall