SYMPHONY IN DEMEANOR – Time Goes On (Symphony In Demeanor)
For their third album this Canadian four-piece have stuck to their tried and tested formula and produced another collection of great pop/rock songs. Influences bandied about in the past have included The Beatles, Electric Light Orchestra, Badfinger, Queen and Pink Floyd, and if you like any or all of those bands then there will be plenty for you to enjoy on here. The title track opens proceedings with a lush orchestrated ballad, complete with delicate harmonies and a restrained guitar solo, and of course their knack for a catchy tune, and you can tell straight away that this is going to be as good as, if not better than, their last two releases. ‘Through’ has a more up-tempo feel, contrasting sharply with the downbeat lyrics about the break-up of a relationship, while ‘Madame Lola’ showcases their mastery of the pop hook on this catchy little rocker. ‘The Past’ has a countrified, downhome feel, before slowing right down in the middle for a fantastic bluesy guitar solo, and then picking back up again as if nothing had happened. ‘Child Inside’ is an aching piano-led ballad, with the chorus showing the band at their most Beatles-y, and ‘Getting Older’ really strikes a chord with me, as I agree wholeheartedly with its sentiments of ‘I know you’re getting older…(but) don’t let your mind act it’s age’. ‘How Long’ is another great pop song, with a chorus that is tailormade for radio airplay, and considering that their styles are quite similar it is the first song that reminded me of The Feeling – and if they are able to break the charts then so should SiD. ‘Who Am I’ is a short ballad, leading nicely into ‘I’m Okay’, which brings back the orchestra to augment another powerful performance from the band, with the drumming really driving the track along. ‘Where Are You’ closes the album with another lovely ballad, featuring just piano and guitar at the beginning, but with the whole band coming in for the chorus, and then each taking turns for some nice organ and guitar fills, before winding the track down with an extended coda filled with great harmonies and a searing guitar solo. It is the perfect way to end this superb album, and so for anyone who hankers after good, old-fashioned rock music then track down this album at
Time Goes On