One Day
by Atlantaeum Flood
REVIEWS and COMMENTS
The band name suggests a certain idiom, its clearly not going to be a set of anti Thatcher polemic protest songs. The cover with its visual link back to DARKSIDE OF THE MOON or very early Tangerine Dream carries that mood on. Recorded in Cornwall over a three year period by Steve and Lynne Knott, Marty and Olivia Wilson-Piper and Dare Mason, a musical cycle beginning and ending with bird song so it can repeat, this is a vivid if not earth shattering evocation of mood and the passing of time. Dylan Thomas gets a sleeve mention, so either they were trying to match his drinking or its a nod to his Under Milk Wood lyrical cycle following a surreal Welsh fishing village through 24 hours. If so alongside Richard Burton, Stan Tracey and Bobby Wellins they are in fine company. The playing and arranging is exemplary, without ever descending into muso noodling or overblown showy displays of virtuosity.
4 stars out of 5
There is a spell over the album, a meaningful incantation that has been drawn and protected, one that sees the uniqueness of the music as a powerful enchanting beast that purrs as much as it growls. This should be of no surprise to the listener as they become once more enthralled by the five-piece collective that involves Marty Wilson-Piper, Steve and Lynne Knott, Olivia Wilson-Piper and Dare Mason all urging the moments of the song to grace the ethereal intensity with absolute style.
This may be the first album by the collaboration between Steve Knott and Marty Willson-Piper who head the five-piece collective, but these musicians have a deep musical pedigree that is used to its ultimate.
Innovative and experimental this album may be, although it is not produced by up and coming new talent, there is still a freshness and vitality to the music from experienced multi-talented practitioners. After several listens, each experience reveals something different.
Atlantæum Flood, a name that includes a ligature, which in itself achieves its Prog pretension status, may be looking towards pushing the boundaries with this concept album, each track essentially named for the eight distinctive periods that make up an ordinary day, "Before Sunrise", "After Sunrise", "Before Noon" etc. and onward to midnight (or just after), but there's not an awful lot of difference between each of these pieces, they all sound pretty much mid-morning.
3 stars out of 5
One Day is an instrumental album full of incredibly moving, emotional pieces written by Steve Knott. The music wavers from Celtic to prog-rock to semi-classical. By the end of the album, the listener is pulled through the emotional wringer. It is a fantastic album. It is hard to believe that this is their debut release. They sound like they have been around for years.
4 stars out of 5
And speaking of beauty, this record has gorgeous vinyl grooves that quietly burn. Oh my! This album simply begs and bleeds that instrumental charm.
The whole album is a highlight, although special mention to 'After Sunset' which is driven along by intricate, melodic guitar playing backed by a swirling orchestral backing. Wonderful stuff from start to finish. Also 'Before Midnight', an ethereal folk air on this one, mellow and relaxed as that time of day can be sometimes - one for All About Eve and 80's era Clannad fans.
4 stars out of 5