Detailed Reviews [Lifesigns - 2021 - "Altitude"]

Prolusion. UK band Lifesigns is the creative vehicle of composer and musician John Young, and work commenced on this venture as far back as 2008 with the first album seeing the light of day five years later. Since then a live album and two further studio productions have been issued under the Lifesigns moniker. "Altitude" is the most recent of these, and was self released in 2021.

Analysis. Just where this production should be placed within a progressive rock context will probably be a different from one person to the next, but what I suspect most fans of the genre will agree on is that the music here is one that is fairly broadly appealing overall, with a focus on compelling moods and atmospheres, distinct melody lines and by and large shying away from the inclusion of more challenging and quirky instrument details. As such, quite a few will probably place this production within a neo-progressive rock context I suspect. We do get quite a few sections that are closer to the neo-progressive rock standards throughout here too, with floating, elegant and atmospheric laden keyboard passages and haunting, elegant guitar solo runs of the kind that will please those that subscribe to this variety of progressive rock being among the more interesting to listen to. We also get liberal amounts of more careful and emotional laden parts that I guess quite a few progheads will describe as melodic rock or even ballads. These will always be a part of a greater totality though, and are never explored as standalone features. In addition to the above Young and his fellow musicians will also take their songs into different territories and landscapes. We do get the quirkier and more technical and challenging types of escapades that are much closer to symphonic progressive rock in style and execution, especially on the instrumental runs and often in the final parts of the compositions, and more playful, elegant excursions closer to what one might describe as 70's art pop is a part of the total experience too. On one occasion the sound also switch over to a more blues laden, atmospheric oriented manner that fans of Gilmour-era Pink Floyd should feel right at home with, on another we are treated to an elongated sequence that to my ears is a bit closer to classic era Camel in form, style and execution. Hence variety is at hand here. While variety is very much present and accounted for, all of the songs here stay put in landscapes that are compelling and easy to enjoy. The controlled, melodic and careful lead vocals is a vital part of the total experience, mainly delivered in a more soft and atmospheric laden manner without any major dramatic infliction. The more elaborate arrangements will typically develop towards the end of a song as something of a grand finale, audio fireworks that are a natural and logical conclusion in the development of the compositions.

Conclusion. While "Altitude" is an album that does cover a few different facets of progressive rock, the overall controlled, careful and atmospheric laden general nature of this production will make this an album that probably will have it's major appeal among fans of neo-progressive rock as well as among those with a taste for more elaborate and sophisticated varieties of melodic rock, and then in particular among those who appreciate productions within these fields being of a more careful and atmospheric laden variety overall but with regular surges featuring more energetic and expressive arrangements. For my sake I note this down as a solid production.

Progmessor: August 2022
The Rating Room