Spireigy - Wherever Forever Progressive Voyages Review PV100

Spirergy- Whenever Forever- Progressive Voyages Review PV 100

Dave Allen is a busy man it would seem not only is he part of the Riffstone team ( With Colin Powell) he is an artist in his own right with this latest album ( his third after Aeon in 2023, Journey's End in 2024 and now this latest one whenever For released this January 2026.all this plus an o going Radio show

The albums starts with the track Innocent Hearts which opens with shimmering keyboards washes alongside drums and a sturdy bass line before some choppy guitar rhythms are added and so e string power chords all of which sound great an establish a str5groove and beat, more strong keyboards, Well a organ part follows, before Dave’s first vocal commences, the song is about war and the innocent people who are caught up in a war they neither wanted or asked for but who have been caught up in it all anyway, there is a good guitar break in this song, and the use of the guitar and keyboards are very interesting

The next track is When They Came, this beg8ns gently with acoustic guitar and keyboards before a searing guitar line is added, played with style and energy again this song seems to be about an unwanted invasion by unknown forces, the song has lots of keyboards and I am reminded of Yes in both the vocals, The bass and the keyboards

Carry Me Home is next, this has a flowing guitar line in the opening section, Here I am reminded of the lyrical guitar of Mike Oldfield, as the melody line is suitably Jaunty and upbeat in tone, the vocals are again very Yes like and the bass is suitably Squireish in it’s tone and style, the son g is about an injured soldier who returns home aided by a comrade as he makes his return together with his comrades assistance and support, this is a very upbeat and cheerful song I really like this track a lot.

The next track See It In Your Eyes is an instrumental piece that is full of strong piano and some strong guitar lines and sounds, it is a fairly even tempo piece enlivened by a fine solo guitar line and bass and drums, It is an interesting piece brief and doesn’t overstay its welcome at all, good interplay between the various instruments that works very well.

The next track Falling From The Sky opens with a sustained synthesiser drone that is joined by further syths to create an excellent start for the song which is about an invasion from above, this has some wah guitar playing amongst the strong bass and powerful drumming, the song is hinged on a strong bass part that really captures the imagination, the sustained bass riff is fabulous and very Chris Squire like it fits very well into the overall sound of this strong track, there is a quieter mid section with very atmospheric keyboards sounds and textures and the strong bass returns and a Stockton bass and drum pattern emerges here with a great guitar line and brief solo and more bass gymnastics that sound excellent as the song chorus repeats, This is a highly imaginative track with some truly excellent musical parts and sections throughout.

It’s Here Again is next and this is a return to the more upbeat, jolly tones of Carry Me Home, as it too has a jaunty strident tone, the synthesisers make the song sprightly and upbeat, this is a shorter song but it still has a lot going for it including some great guitar work and lines, Again I really like this track with its great guitar solo that makes a great impression here. The song celebrates the cyclical nature of life, Sunrises and Sunsets, life and death, renewal and growth.

I also like the jaunty synthesiser line that lifts the song at various stages, it really works well and positively enhances the song.

In The Small Hours is next and this is about ann9lder man who suffers insomnia and has fears that trouble him at night affecting his ability to get to sleeps as his mind is fighting fears and memories from his past, this song has lots of shifts in time and tempo, it has more spectacular bass work and great keyboard sounds and textures, However the bass is the real star of this song, it is remarkable adept and agile athletic and compelling. A real fine song with great lyrics, As indeed are all the tracks here, well written and intelligently delivered with stunning music to match.

This album gets better with each track, In fact there isn’t a weak song here at all each one has something to commend it which bring us to the albums final track, It is also the longest at 16.00 duration, Wherever Forever is about a bunch of travellers looking to escape from a environmentally damaged earth, the song opens with a chugging riff and power chords before a soaring synthesiser line plays against the rest of guitars, bass and drums, the words here are very evocative as they tell the tale of the desire go find a new home.

The music here strongly reminds me of Yes especially in the vocals, However also in the synthesisers that dance across the middle section at 6.37 mark With its atmospheric passages before an upbeat part at the 7.52 mark that has Rick Wakeman stamped all over it, The subtle bass playing helps reinforce that view and perspective, the upbeat section commences at that point.

This song uses its extended length to allow some great improvisation parts which it does to strong effect, with a very Steve Howe guitar solo, and a subtle acoustic guitar part towards the songs climatic finale, This is possibly the best Yes song that isn’t actually by Yes which is high commendation indeed but such is it strength that you can enjoy it as if it were as it really is a magnificent track and indeed album.

There is much to enjoy here in this rather special and splendid album, great epic songs, sterling performances and great lyrics, production values and interesting lyrics.

I heartily recommend this and indeed all his albums

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Author John Wenlock-Smith.

17th January 2026.