Album review: Shady Bard – Trials
Back in the seventies, before prog rock was all but destroyed by punk, the concept album was all the rage with bands like Yes, Genesis and Pink Floyd all releasing them. By the time the Eighties had arrived the concept album was practically dead with anyone daring to release one held up to ridicule. In the last few years however the concept album has started to make a bit of a comeback and next week sees the release of ‘Trials’ by Birmingham’s Shady Bard, an album that revolves around the story of a village ravaged by fire.
An album based around a village destroyed by fire is obviously not going to be a joyous album and the band use the instruments at their disposal to devastating effect. The piano, guitar, cello, sax and most importantly Lawrence Becko’s voice, create songs that not only paint visual pictures with the lyrics but convey emotion and intensity. Whether it’s the mournful, piano led ballad ‘Trials’, the poppier (but no more cheery) ‘Daphne’, the flamenco of ‘Trials III’ or the soaring, dramatic ‘Plan B’ you’re left with a feeling of hopelessness which is quite a remarkable achievement.
Being that it’s a concept album it really needs, and deserves, to be heard as a whole so it’s not really appropriate to highlight any individual song and I hope it doesn’t end up being sold track by track on Itunes. But the album flows beautifully and Lawrence’s voice is perfect for it’s mood. The only downside is that to get the most out if it you need to concentrate, which means actually setting aside time to do nothing but listen, but it’s well worth it. 4/5
Mark Cousens
Out 1st November on Forest Industries
Buy Shady Bard from hmv
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