Monkey Trial - Dark Skies Progressive Voyages Review PV021

Monkey Trial – Dark Skies Progressive Voyages Review PV021

This new album from Cheshire based outfit Monkey Trial is an all-instrumental affair consisting of a mere 5 tracks but lasting for 54 minutes it consists of 3 long tracks and 2 shorter, more concise ones.

The album commences with the title track Dark Skies and it opens with growling synths and some Theremin effects this gradually leads Into some acoustic guitar strumming all very straightforward and yet still effective. Monkey Trial say their music is ambient electronica soundtracks for imaginary locations which is a fair enough description, although I would say it is definitely influenced and inspired by the 1980’s recordings of Tangerine Dream as well as Pink Floyd as they explore a similar territory sonically.

There is a lot of great guitar textures in this track and it really works well as an opening statement.

Next we have the track Embraced By The Rain in which we find a spoken word section delivered by Laura Leeson, who intones

build the rhythm

start the weave

through the earth the roots and leaves

each drop unlocks a tale untold

a fleeting gift so soft and bold

Embrace The Rain and yet leaves a fleeting gift, a melody.

This is repeated at various points in the track. It is spoken over a droning synth and steady sequencer melody.

It certainly does make a strong impression and sets the tone for this the albums longest piece at 14:51 in length.

Ambient music is usually very gentle and measured in pace. Using subtle melodic shifts and changes in both its pattern and tempo to establish and explore a melodic pattern or mood during its duration.

As is the case with this piece, an electric guitar line is added at the 8:40 mark which compliments the dynamics of the track. I really like how this track builds with the guitar adding new textures to the overall sound, it does sound great to me.

The constant evolution or progression of these sounds really makes a strong impression, I do suggest to get the best of this album it may well be best heard on headphones so you can really hear everything that is going on as some of it is very subtle, listening on headphones will help you appreciate it even more.

Nonetheless it is an excellent track that never loses its way and keeps the listener engrossed all the way through.

This is followed by Dark Ships the first of the shorter tracks at 5:32 in duration. This track begins with a Bass guitar melody played in tandem with the keyboards then at the 2:05 mark a driving guitar takes centre stage briefly before returning to the bass motif and keyboards before a very Pink Floyd like guitar tone is added, this adds to the atmospheric of the track greatly.

Next we have Time Ships which is another lengthy ambient soundscape of subdued sounds and stirring piano chords and synthesisers with some more delicate guitar parts added, again this is a moody lengthy piece has some electric guitar embellishments to enliven it further. Again I can hear Pink Floyd influences in the sound especially in the shimmering keyboards which reminds one of the much missed Richard Wright of Pink Floyd who used a similar palette of sounds and textures to such great effect.

This track also has a voice over by Jeff Noel Seijas which adds to the sound of this strong piece of music. Again this brooding track really makes a strong impression as you listen to it as its steady rhythm unfolds in such a distinctive way as the guitar builds in intensity as the track heads towards its conclusion in a strong yet still satisfying intensity. For me this is the best track on an album of fabulous and diverse music

The final track Rotor is another shorter (well 6:13) in length which again begins with a syncopated rhythm and guitar lines set against a percussive keyboard rhythm and also with more spoken word parts. These words are fully clear but they add to the overall effectiveness of the track, being integral to the sound. More sequenced keyboard sounds and patterns emerge adding to the overall sound whilst remaining very satisfying. Certainly very effective and memorably the song draws towards a close in a very satisfying way, as Clive Mollart (keyboards, programming and Theremin) and Shaun Bailey (guitar Bass and Programming) deliver the closing moments of what has been a journey of great delights for a listener who grew up with Tangerine Dream and Electronic Music this new album will do very nicely indeed. Local bands like Monkey Trial deserve all the support they can get as such music really does warrant a wider audience.

There is also some free music there to grab at a name your own price opportunity I recommend you do so. This is a great album for fans of Electronic Music.

Info here :Dark Skies | MonkeyTrial https://share.google/GFyxLxEguSdXIP3Wp