Search - Pure Reason Revolution :: Cautionary Tales for the Brave

Still growing on me

Mr D. | Cave Creek, Az United States | 03/26/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Pure Reason Revolution - Cautionary Tales for the Brave



I can sum up the music of Pure Reason Revolution (PRR) in one word--refreshing. This Progressive Rock UK band is sweeping the progressive world and well it should. Their music is as fresh as a April shower with ultra-catchy melodies, haunting refrains and four of the five band members (one female, which adds a nice touch) harmonizing almost all of the vocals. Who do they remind me of? No one. Maybe a tiny bit like Pink Floyd. But only because the music is imaginative and their tempo is reminiscent of the great ones.



Yeah, all right you caught me. Yes, they have a Radiohead feel and maybe a tiny bit like the fabulous new Polish band, Riverside, but that's all--scout's honor.



Pure Reasoning Revolution's initial studio album, `The Dark Third' was released in Europe in January on Inside Out Records. For those of you that follow Progressive rock and metal that fact alone should tell you that PRR is something special. That album is indeed great but that's a future review. One of the reasons that albumis great is that three of this EP's songs (the longest three) appear on the album as well. This review is about there previous release an EP called Cautionary Tales for the Brave.



Cautionary Tales contains four songs--two long and two average. It runs just a hair over twenty-nine minutes, which is almost as long as some of the shorter full albums. In my opinion Cautionary Tales is just as good, though shorter than it's big sister--The Dark Third. All songs have a medium slow, easy going tempo, which the more you listen, the more you like. To me all four amazing songs are five stars.



Song/track list

1. In Aurélia 3:50

2. Bright Ambassadors of Morning 11:50

3. Arrival/The Intention Craft 8:36

4. He Tried to Show Them Magic/Ambassadors Return 5:33



Line-up

Jon Courtney (vocals/guitar)

Chloe Alper (bass/vocals/keyboards)

James Dobson (keyboards/bass/vocals/violin)

Greg Jong (vocals/guitar)

Andrew Courtney (drums)



Conclusion



If progressive rock is ever going to make a slash in mainstream music America, this is the band that can do it. Not only is their music catchy, it also sounds like longer, more involved top forty (but not too much more involved.) As you might suspect the longer songs are more involved than the shorter ones but they all should appeal to a broad spectrum of listeners."

Great New Band

Randal Greenberg | Oak Forest,Illinois | 01/25/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"An up and coming prog band out of the UK being tagged by the media as London's new mini-Floyd band.I picked up the EP above the other day and all I can say is WOW.What a refreshing new sound.Classic 70's prog with an inventive new twist makes it difficult to catagorize these guys.Time signature changes with four part harmonies and power riffs throughout. No wonder with some of their influences being Pink Floyd,Led Zepplin and CSNY.Their debut full length album "The Dark Third" is due out in March 2006 hopefully followed by a US tour.Heres the line up:

Jon Courtney (vocals/guitar)

Chloe Alper (bass/vocals/keyboards)

James Dobson (keyboards/bass/vocals/violin)

Greg Jong (vocals/guitar)

Andrew Courtney (drums)

All fine musicians in their own right,these guys are worth keeping an eye on IMO."

Heavenly and moving

Deron Dilger | Golden, CO | 08/05/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album is a delight with every song, but it REALLY shines when listened to as a single song from beginning to end. It grew on me at a gentle pace, but I knew it had me when I noticed my inclination to restart it and continue driving past my house on snowy night commutes. The band takes all the time they want to build and build the songs. If you take a ten, thirty or even 120 second sample you'll fail to gather the power of these creations. They need to be taken in from start to end. You'll be surprised how something that starts so slow and gentle will end up rocking. Those who like Pink Floyd, Porcupine Tree, and Chromakey will take right to this. Those who like Dream Theater, Fates Warning may jump too quickly to a conclusion that is doesn't "rock" enough, but given the right introduction and time, they'll find that such an opinion is a mistake."