Living In Shadows- Neon Burning Progressive Voyages Review PV109

Living In Shadows – Neon Burning – Progressive Voyages Review PV109

This group Living In Shadows came to attention through my colleague David Edwards who highlighted them on a Facebook page and that immediately piqued my interest to hear them for myself.

They are a duo of Zoe Gilby (vocals) and Andy Champion (guitar,Bass,keyboards, Drums and Programming)

On the album they are assisted by Mark Williams Guitar and Acoustic Guitar and Chris Sharkey who play the guitar solo on the track Satellites

Their music has traces of Jazz Rock, Alternative and 70 and 80’s styles all with a very English slant to their sound.

Let’s have a listen and discover all this for ourselves shall we?

Opening track is Cast Away which starts with an upfront bass line then adds drums to the mix before Zoe’s voice comes into play.

Zoe is an accomplished vocalist who has been recognised for her skills and her vocals, You can see why as well when she effortlessly channels the like of Billie Holliday, c Cleo Laine and the like, the sound is solid and strong with excellent instrumentation throughout along with strong backing vocals, You can tell their Jazz influences and history clearing in the interplay and intelligently structured tracks where each instrument can be clearly heard, the Bass motif returns again most effectively and impressively at that, the song is about realising your opportunities and making changes it is a very positive song that starts this great album off really well

This is swiftly followed by Who Are You which begins with a crunchy and solid guitar riff, before settling into a more gentle groove with lots of arpeggio guitar fills and another strong bass line, The song is about A Narcissist who has insidious ambitions in a relationship to control their partner, the midsection has s9me highly effective bass playing in tandem with the fluid guitar lines of Mark Williams who really let’s fly here I an exciting and fiery yet brief solo. I really do like this track it has lots happening during its 6-minute

duration.

Next up is Silently Dancing, This is a very gentle track which puts in mind of the subtle jazz infected pop of Sade, The song is about How nature is always changing and the song uses this as a metaphor for a secret garden that comes alive at night, so much so that only certain people can get to see it. A shorter song but a most interesting style and track.

This is followed by Wide Open Sky, Which is about the new beginning that c9mes from the early dawning light breaking through and colouring and filling the sky, Whilst you have been awake all night, This new day leaving you feeling more alive than ever, The track begins with a gently plucked acoustic guitar before drums and bass kick in, the track gains a steady pace and rhythm as Zoe’s graceful effortless vocals begin, there us a real sense of exuberance in her vocals, excitement of the new day beginning with all the hope and optimism that it offers as a gift, a blank canvas on which to paint your own identity, ideas and stamp, the endless repetition of the lines Are We Alone, Are We Here is highly effective again this track impresses greatly.

Leaving Light is next and this refers back to the pandemic and whilst we were all vulnerable, we were able to derive strength and support from our partners and our relationship with them during those difficult times, this not 9nly helped us through the difficult times but also helped by developing survival skills and deeper trust and b9nds between couples, this song recognises those facts and celebrates it.

This song beg8ns gently with acoustic guitar and sympathetic bass and gentle keyboards, there is a good synthesiser solo at the 2.00 mark, the track has lots of openness and space to it, it is a very effective song which certainly ev9kesvthose uncertain and unprecedented days in which we found ourselves.

Satellites is next and this is about addictions and chasing the thrill or the high once again, The song has a strong groove and its theme whilst unsettling is honestv8n the urges that drive an addiction in whatever form that may take whether it be drugs, Alcohol or unhealthy passions and behaviours, the song is greatly enriched by a furious guitar solo from Mark Williams, 8 also like the treated vocals from Zoe that adds to the effect. Another strong track.

Page By Page follows and is the albums longest track and its most progressive in style, although its sound palette seems to be rotted in the 1980’sa and the likes of Shakattak and other jazz infected acts of that age. The song is about escapism and reluctance to face and live in the real world,

The sound is very 80s and it sounds really good and comfortable which fits with the songs theme and narrative, there is another excellent guitar solo from Mark Williams who really adds colour to the track, Zoe’s vocals are equally impressive here and the delicate piano lines that occur at the 5:10 mark and the gentle arpeggios that lead into the next section and the bass and drum interactions that make a good impression as you listen, this track has and employs a lot of imaginative sections and sequences to make a good impression, they use the extended running time as a platform for their interesting ideas and concepts, this is a highly impressive and musically satisfying song. I think it is a remarkable track with lots to commend it.

The album concludes with Neon Burning which is about how a passionate love and desire can burn too brightly and can quickly implode, yes despite being aware of that danger it is allowed to continue, doomed from the start it continues before dramatically falling apart and fading away, burnt out forever.

This begins with electric piano and a sultry vocal from Zoe, singing about a star fading into the night, Again I am reminded of Sade, although the keyboards are very fine and strong here, a lovely mellow track to end what has been a most interesting album of great style and songs.

I really enjoyed this fine album I think you might too.

Info here: Neon Burning | Living In Shadows https://share.google/TTBzqtW04dtNpIfW9

Author John Wenlock-Smith.

16th January 2026.