Drifting Sun make the sort of classic Prog music that reminds listeners that making complex and original music is a good thing and that it doesn’t have to be based in Blues or R&B. Keyboard led and almost orchestral in scale, Drifting Sun are one of the top bands in the Prog world. This is, I think, their sixth album since reforming in 2014, and they are growing and developing their music. This has elements of Nordic brittleness coupled with the soaring soundscapes that Yes produced. Add to that a hard element to the drums and bass and I, for one, find their music both exhausting and exciting.
Their lineup is Pat Sanders on keyboards, Ralph Cardell on guitars, John Jowitt on bass and Fudge Smith on drums. The wonderfully named Jargon is on vocals. Sanders is a founding member of the band and the rest of the band have history with Prog, Neo-Prog and Prog-Metal bands going back a number of years. Fudge Smith was with Pendragon, John Jowitt was previously with IQ & Arena among others, Jargon was with Greek band Verbal Delerium and Ralph Cardall was a founder member of Deepstate and Rattlesnake Kiss.
They are tellers of tales, creating images through the complex music placed before the listener.
The overall sound is best summed up as massive. There is a height and width to the soundscape – although it can get focused as on ‘2 Minute Waltz’ – and the band have no problem with poly-rhythmic music, all serving to make the listener stand back in some awe at the size and imperious scale of the music before them.
I’ve listened to the album maybe a dozen times, and I am still picking up new items from it. One of the best bands that Britain has making music at the moment – now if they would only tour …
