Colin Masson - The Old Bridge Of Awe- Progressive Voyages Review PV074

Colin Masson- The Old Bridge Of Awe – Progressive Voyages Review PV074

The Old Bridge Of Awe cover by Colin Masson

I'm not really sure how I found about this album I think it was something I found whilst staying in Wokingham for the festival, However I liked what I heard and reached out to Colin with a view to reviewing this album.

Colin is a South west (Salisbury) musician and graphic designer who has recently relocated to the Scottish Highlands (loch Awe). The Old Bridge Of Awe which is near to where he now resides, This album combines both Celtic and Progressive Rock Music successfully.

The album consists of 8 tracks, 2 of these have vocals whilst the others are instrumentals, Colin plays all the instruments that appear on this album.

Let dig and see what how this all sounds shall we?

The album begins with a burst of incendiary guitar before becoming calmer as a steady bass line begins and a keyboard wash is heard, pulsating gently before the song begins properly with a decidedly Celtic tone, and the vocals begin singing The Sun Will Rise In A Pool Of Fire. I especially like the sound of this song it has a strong refrain that stands out, as the various instruments come into play. Descant recorder and guitar all come together to make a strong impact, the guitar is very fluid and melodic it puts me in mind of Iona as they Plough a similar pathway of sound. A great opener.

Fallen Eagle is next, this is the albums longest track and again the music is subtle and initially gentle although it does gain pace at the 2 minute mark. The track has a lot of guitar fills that occur in contrast to the acoustic guitar which sounds very warm indeed, there is almost a reel type sound to the track although at various points the keyboards texture’s take the spotlight, but the great guitar lines are never far away.

At the 7 minute mark the track takes an unexpected shift into a medieval sounding musical part which really suits it as the recorder plays a sprightly melody that harkens back to older times. This is backed by a strong organ motif before surrendering to the guitar once again. This is an interesting musical track with a tale that tells of the recovery of the Eagle standard which was lost in Caledonia (the ancient name for Scotland). The Eagle standard was eventually discovered in Silchester (now a part of Reading) having been captured by tribes who lived by Loch Awe. How it got to Silchester is not known, the track has voices that are a fabricated (made up Latin) to fit the music, which has regal overtones and passages, I like this ever changing nature of this song .

The Falls Of Avich follows. This is another instrumental initially on acoustic guitar although sympathetic keyboards support the acoustic guitar, at the 1:35 point an electric guitar is introduced as the keyboards become more prominent and act as a counterpoint to the acoustic guitar. This is a largely gentle piece of music and not without its charms. Àt the 3:45 point the electric guitar line cuts through and sounds really impressive before fading back to the acoustic guitar part once again.

Again this track has a lot of presence to it and is a really fine piece of music performed extremely competently by Colin.

The Hollow Mountain is next, the song is about Ben Cruachen at 1125 metres (3694 feet in height). The mountain dominates the northern end of Loch Awe, it is called the hollo2 mountain for its use as the location for one of the first large scale pumped Hydroelectric storage stations in the world, hence its name The Hollow Mountain. This track has lots of Mike Oldfield like electric guitar tones, very melodious and sweet sounding a most impressive track.

Innes Chonnel is on next, this is another instrumental that reflects an island on Loch Awe upon which rests a ruined castle. This track begins with a keyboard part that sounds like a harpsichord or similar it is a moody, brooding piece of music with a good melody that seems to creep like a swirling fog in places, in others it is a clear recorder part that gives the track its voice,. It does sound very impressive all told especially when the music swells and expands, again you get a sense of the conflicts that the ruined castle has seen, it is possibly a mournful piece because of its history.

Tamlinn is next this is a further instrumental track, this incorporates a traditional Scottish reel of the same name that is also known as The Glasgow Reel. The reel is commonplace in Scottish dancing it refers to a lively dance. This track is certainly lively enough, with a strongly rhythmic and repeated picking pattern which is supported by keyboards and a single electric guitar line. Again I am reminded of some of Mike Oldfield’s music in his earlier years before he embraced Electronic dance and beats music. A strong organ part at the 3.30 mark makes a good impression as does the fiery guitar break that follows spewing out notes like a shower, very impressive playing in this track, it is an excellent track I like it a lot.

Strange Old World is next and is the albums Penultimate track, this is a vocal track, this has a very folk (Irish) style to it as it concerns itself with drinking and tales of glory, it is a fairly gentle song, although sad in tone.

The final track of the album is also the title track The Old Bridge Of Awe, this is instrumental in nature beginning with a gently picked acoustic guitar and supported by delicate keyboards and a chiming ring (could be keyboard derived). It has a gentle melody for the initial section then at the 3:40 mark an electric guitar line is added that plays against the acoustic before become much louder and more to the fore, this then repeats the acoustic guitar motif more fully. This sounds very good indeed like something out of Tubular Bells. This then draws back a little before quietly fading away. A very good track that concludes a very good album, one that I am happy to draw people’s attention to as it is a very good and musical release, one that has lots to commend it.

I am certainly glad to have been able to hear this for myself.

You can listen to it on Colin’s bandcamp page, along with his other albums.

Info here: www.colinmasson.bandcamp.com

Author John Wenlock-Smith