Downes Braide Association-Halcyon Hymns (2021)

At the end of the disastrous year 2019 and the beginning of the disastrous year 2020 years that, for obvious reasons we all know, deserve that label Geoff Downes and Chris Braide joined forces once again to tour with a full band, performing a series of songs, some of which already appear on "Halcyon Hymns" (the duo's fourth album), along with material from their previous albums and other tracks composed during the lockdown of much of 2020. Now, in 2021, this album has been released, a somewhat nostalgic offering with certain reflective touches that nevertheless lead us to a certain positivity upon listening, hoping for better days in the not-too-distant future. For this album, in addition to Geoff Downes' keyboards and the guitars and vocals, with the added bonus of Chris Braide's keyboards, musicians such as drummer Ash Soen, bassist Andy Hodge, guitarist David London, and the great Marc Almond on vocals appear. Barney Ashton Bullock also features as narrator on some of the tracks. The album itself is a journey through sounds reminiscent of the more symphonic Moody Blues, the more progressive Yes, or even the more commercial sound of The Alan Parsons Project. Barney Ashton Bullock's narration opens the splendid "Love Among The Ruins" with lush musical textures, a song brimming with vitality and good vibes. The haunting "King Of The Sunset" is a mid-tempo track where the vocal harmonies are effectively constructed, with subtle bursts of guitars and mandolins. "Your Heart Will Find The Way" retains that sound reminiscent of Yes's era with Trevor Rabin, a catchy track with soaring choruses and a clear, optimistic message. The progressive "Holding The Heavens" is closer to the more bucolic sounds of Genesis, with its 12-string guitars and a melody that builds almost epically. Another track in the vein of Yes, this time in their classic style, is the short "Beachcombers," a song that gradually unfolds through layers of keyboards, guitars, drums, and precise vocal harmonies. The pastoral "Warm Summer Sun", sung by the extraordinary Marc Almond, features a masterful interplay between his voice and Braide's, a song that evokes feeling and nostalgia. Meanwhile, "Hymn to Darkness" leaves us with that lingering taste of Downes' church music, with an irresistible melody and great mandolin and keyboard chords that provide the perfect backdrop for Braide's voice. The languid and brief "Late Summer" follows a somewhat similar path, but in a darker tone of great instrumental beauty. The expansive "Remembrance" is the album's strangest song, employing the same mandolin and piano patterns as the previous tracks, as Ashton Bullock narrates our love for the elderly so afflicted by this disease. With this new album, Downes and Braide have triumphed once again, and as with their previous album, "Skyscraper Souls", they both benefit from working with a full band, with the invaluable contributions of Andy Hodge and Ash Soan, and guest musicians like Marc Almond, all of whom contribute great harmonies and extraordinary instrumental performances in a work as elegant as it is refined, where its message of yearning for... The return of the happy days we all long for now, a message the world needs in these difficult times.