Detailed Reviews [The Mighty Handful - 2020 - "Touchy Subjects"]

Prolusion. UK band THE MIGHTY HANDFUL have a history going back ten years, with a good handful of EP and album releases to their name so far. Following many years exploring a conceptual series, they released their first full length album that wasn't a part of that creative cycle in 2020. The album was self released, and is called "Touchy Subjects".

Analysis. While The Mighty Handful concluded their conceptual series of productions prior to the release of this album, not all that much has changed in terms of the music they explore. They weave their way back and forth between mainly retro-tinged music inside and outside of a progressive rock context, and once again with a bit more foundation inside the progressive rock universe as I experience the band. Structure, arrangements and the manner in which the songs develop again being the major reasons for this being the case. As with previous albums and EPs the type of progressive rock mainly remains an accessible one too. The piano is a central instrument throughout both as a dominant and supportive instrument, with piano driven rock and piano ballads at hand as well as gentler songs, ballads and edgier creations all relying on the piano at least as a vital support instrument. Gentler escapades developing into harder edged creations is a part of the totality here too, as well as classic retro-oriented hard rock with classic guitar and organ combinations. A bit more novel for the band are short songs exploring a jazzier and a minimalist landscape respectively that have a bit more of an avant touch to them, the songs in question here being 'Kenneth' and 'Relentless', and the slightly odd 'Just You Wait' is another song here that adds some off kilter details to the proceedings. Besides instruments and style details, the vocals are rather vital for the listener experience too, and vocalist Howes delivers his most dynamic and expressive vocal performances I've heard from him so far on this production. Striking and emotional and with something of a theatrical edge. As with all other material I have encountered by The Mighty Handful this is a well developed and well executed production on all levels. No obvious weak spots to write home about, and a classic case of the properties of the music presented establishing how much or not you will enjoy this album.

Conclusion. Those who know and love retro-oriented rock with something of a foundation inside the progressive rock universe should have a good chance of enjoying this album as well as the previous productions by this band. If accessible progressive rock with something of a 70's sound to it featuring expressive vocals and the piano as a central instrument sounds interesting, this is an album to add to your checklist.

Progmessor: July 2021
The Rating Room