Detailed Reviews [ Ryan Yard - 2020 - "The Nature of Solitude II"]

Prolusion. UK composer and musician Ryan YARD have been releasing solo albums at a steady pace ever since 2015, and by now he has 10 productions to his name counting all and sundry. "The Nature of Solitude II" from 2020 is his sixth full length studio album, and the successor to 2017's "The Nature of Solitude". Like with all the other releases by Yard, the album was self-released.

Analysis. Instrumental progressive rock is the main giant umbrella to sort this album under, and for those that need to venture more into the details of categorization the word ambient can probably be added to the list here. Not that this is a production oriented towards what was often sorted under ambient music in earlier days though, as this is a production filled with planned compositions and layered arrangements rather than atmospheric laden smooth sound tapestries. Not that the material here isn't smooth and atmospheric laden as such, but because the creations here are so much more than being just that. This album revolves around two epic length compositions, the first passing the 20 minute mark with good margin, while the second stops just shy of the 18 minute mark. Two additional bonus tracks have been added to the CD edition, the both of them clocking in at around 9 minutes in total. "The Nature Of Solitude II Part One" is multiple part and multiple phase affair that revolves around several different characteristic parts and sounds. A recurring element are parts with a strong folk music orientation, and to my mind at least several of them came with ready made associations towards descriptions such as Celtic and, arguably, irish. The organ, voice effects and what might or might not be the nonverbal singing of Yard himself are also given space and room to create moods and atmospheres that have more of a sacral, traditional church music feel to them. Orchestral keyboard arrangement come and go throughout this composition as well, and towards the end we are also treated to a more elongated part with a somewhat more exotic tinge to it, and one that gave me faint traces of associations to some of the details explored on Stewart Copeland's solo album "The Rhythmatist" from a few decades back. "The Nature Of Solitude II Part Two" tones down the folk and sacral elements ever so slightly, and tends to incorporate arrangements with a slightly darker mood and feel to them. The parts can be rather different in overall nature too, with a more folk oriented part that for some reason gave me associations towards baroque music as well as other more elaborate and dramatic sections that gave me a stronger association towards psychedelic rock. Orchestral oriented arrangements and layered voices with something of a distanced choir feel to them are recurring elements also in this second major part of the album. The guitar, the organ, the flute and an array of keyboard and possibly synthesizer sounds are the main instruments used throughout, and it's worth noting that the main guitar parts tends to be plucked and mainly acoustic, while the electric guitar is mainly used to provide tight, light toned and elegant solo runs and overlays. Usually contrasting the often softer sounding keyboard arrangements. The end result, as initially described, is a variety of ambient, instrumental progressive rock. Not without or lacking in bite, energy and drive, but with a majority of sections exploring more tranquil, reflective and possibly introspective moods. And while not a production that manages to transport me to other realms and universes it is a good album of this kind. Not quite at the same level of the most successful artists exploring these types of landscapes, but a well made and well executed production on all levels.

Conclusion. I'm not overly familiar with the type of instrumental progressive rock explored on this album, hence my impressions are based on a somewhat limited familiarity with this part of the progressive rock universe. In that context I'd say that this album by Ryan Yard isn't one that is in quite the same league as artists such as Mike Oldfield or even Rob Reed. He does explore similar landscapes however, and I'm fairly sure that most of the people looking forward to the next Mike Oldfield album or Rob Reed's next album in this more careful variety of progressive rock will also feel right at home with this latest album by Ryan Yard.

Progmessor: November 2020
The Rating Room