John Holden The Great Divide Progressive Voyages Review PV064

John Holden- The Great Divide Progressive Voyages Review PV064

John Holden's The Great Divide cover

I feel very honoured to have been entrusted to be one of the first to hear this album and also the first to receive the CD of it as well, John is local and only lives about 5 miles away from me. This is his sixth Solo album and once again he offers us his own distinct take on symphonic prog. John has recorded this music along with a well-chosen selection of collaborators, like Peter Jones, Michel St Pere and Luke Machin amongst others.

One thing that sets John apart is his research into new avenues of thinking and his intelligence is how he applies this to his music, John is a thinking man who is always pursuing new ways of doing things and welcomes new approaches and technologies, he even uses an Artificial Intelligence vocal in the opening section of The Great Divide title track, it is so good that apparently people have asked for contact details, the track is about divisions between people in a relationship.

In this instance 2 characters - Gina and Dan from previous John Holden tracks Highline (Circles In Time) and Against The Tide (Kintsuigi) who are at a crisis point in their relationship deciding whether to continue or become a footnote in their lives. It is an interesting song with a far deeper meaning as it is a situation that the world faces today in its interactions and relationships globally reflecting the divides internally in their own societies and countries.

The tracks starts with a mini Overture in which solo synth is heard and carries a strong melody line, there is also good piano and electric guitar fills lines and runs present along with a sturdy bassline. This all creates a warm and comfortable atmosphere for the song when it starts fully at the almost 5 minute mark, the vocals are all AI generated which makes the track unusual and as mentioned fools many folk such is their authenticity and realism.

It is like the song has three parts to it, the opening part, the main vocals section and the outro all of which combine in a very satisfying opening number.

This is followed by Storm Warning which features both Peter Jones and Luke Machin of Cyan, it has a strong and muscular bass from John Holden along with his guitar playing,

Peter Jones shows once again just how incredibly fine he is as a singer, he could sing the phone book and still sound great, in between there are touches of Luke’s fluid guitar lines before he takes the proper solo at the 5:30 mark where he unleashes a soaring solo that climbs and ascends majestically. It is a stunning song both vocally and instrumentally.

The next track is Runes which begins with a gentle piano motif and orchestrations which is very gracefully performed this then introduces Setari’s breathy vocals she is currently the vocalist for Karnataka, this song suits her style as it encompasses Progressive Rock Music along with certain folk like touches, I like this understated song immensely I feel it is a very fine piece of music.

Next song is Leaf to Blade which is about the current situation of American friendship which has been turned into a blatant power/money/land (delete as applicable) transactional grab this is all set in a western Americana styled type piece. It is a sad reflection of the current state of affairs in the land of the free that is now drift central and a direct contradiction to the values of the founding fathers in 1785 and the removal under Trump of the three branches of government and the relevant checks and balances that are being discarded at will.

This jewel was Ours follows, There we find a song that possesses a real love and gratitude for the wonderful city of Oxford, home of learning and the setting for Colin Dexter’s wonderfully inventive and resilient hero Inspector Morse. In this song John pays tribute to that glorious city and the tales it has seen and lived through. It is a wonderfully evocative piece of music with lots happening during it’s 8-minute duration an elegant synth melody really makes the song flourish well. A clever and intelligent song of which I heartily approve. Above it all another excellent performance from Peter Jones wonderfully warm vocals.

Sandcastles which again has Sertari of Karnataka singing about a love that is slowly dying and is being eroded by the pressures of life and changes, the analogy of the tide is very apt and appropriate and well selected it works as a contrast to Storm Warning where the relationship is primitive and electric, here it is tired and on its last legs, but even so there is a degree of defiance in refusing to give in completely.

Final song And Craft is about the Scottish Four, Mackintosh,Mcnairc and the two McDonald’s whose art was not only beautiful but that it’s beauty was an essential part of their artistic endeavours, standing proudly against a world of mass produced similar artworks by daring to esteem beauty above all in stating that it was essential too and stood out in an age of mass production making each piece individual and with grace and charm being integral. This is a very fitting closing track as it returns us to the central concept of difference and uniqueness.

This is another winning album from John, one that can stand proudly alongside his other great albums, Rise and Fall, Circles In Time, Kintsuigi and last year’s Proximity and Chance. The Great Divide can stand rightly proud. I was deeply impressed by his well thought out songs and musical performances, hopefully many others will feel the same way as me.

I heartily recommend it without any hesitation at all.

Info here: www.johnholdenmusic.com