Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Enchant
Label: Inside Out Records
Release: 2014
Running time: 55:18
Rating: 4/5
American prog rock revivalists Enchant have ‘risen from the dead’ after (roughly) ten years. For a long time it looked like the band had wrapped up their musical career with the album »Tug Of War« (2003), so that individual members could focus on one of the favorite pastimes of the average American citizen: devoting more attention to their families (which was also their official statement to the press). Well, the guys in the band, and the one who’s stood out the most in recent years is the newly minted Spock’s Beard singer Ted Leonard, who, as the frontman of a more popular band, indirectly sparked a revived interest in the Enchant legacy, have managed to ‘recharge their batteries’ over this long stretch with some completely fresh songwriting ideas, and that’s plain to hear on their new album.
»The Great Divide« is, once again, a completely different story from all its predecessors, which means the band keeps up its commendable tradition of every new studio effort sounding a bit different in style from the one before. That slightly different stylistic direction is already visible on the cover art, which differs quite a bit from the Enchant tradition so far, while the band has managed to keep all of its highly polished instrumental strengths and has become even more mature as a songwriting unit on »The Great Divide«. This time they’ve given free rein to their experimentally tinged, prog rock side, while the prog metal elements are a touch less prominent than on some earlier outings, with a bigger emphasis on often undulating ambient arrangements, where keyboardist Bill Jenkins plays a key role.
In the past, Enchant were known as one of the darker American ‘third wave’ prog rock bands, but their eighth effort, which is incredibly refreshing, is a bit more optimistic in color than most fans probably expected. Leonard’s vocal and songwriting approach shows that he’s become a member of Spock’s Beard in the meantime, a band with a generally more positive outlook on the world. Still, the two remaining original Enchant members, guitarist/producer Doug Ott and bassist Ed Platt, made sure with their songwriting contributions that longtime fans will still recognize the traditional sonic finesse of this often overlooked modern prog act.
The opening track »Circles«, marked by an uplifting atmosphere, is just the right mix of technical polish, punch and eclecticism, with a melodic main arrangement up front the whole time, which also makes it a neat blend of the old and new Enchant approach. This should go down well with all the longtime fans. Leonard proves at every turn that his vocals are in top form, while the clever transitions, directed by drummer Sean Flanegan, nicely leave room for epic guitar and keyboard escapades.
»Within an Inch« features a gloomy opening section that slightly recalls some of Enchant’s past standards, but before long a somewhat more relaxing ambient mood takes over, with a melodic backbone arrangement, and there’s no shortage of nicely harmonized keyboard-guitar duels. The title track, one of the highlights of »The Great Divid«, is a very successful mix of pop rock sensibility, thanks to its uplifting chorus, and art rock eclecticism, thanks to its intelligent rhythmic variations. The slightly harder-edged »All Mixed Up« has no shortage of clever keyboard and guitar improvisations, while the individual, mostly subtle arrangements nicely complement Ted’s melodic vocal approach. »Transparent Man« is another happy combination of traditional Enchant sonic finesse with slight prog metal touches and a generous infusion of symphonic sophistication, courtesy of Jenkins’ delicately laid keyboards. »Life In a Shadow« morphs from a nearly ballad-like start into a very energetic piece, where the ‘aftereffects’ of Leonard’s Spock’s Beard membership can be heard in a positive way. »Deserve to Feel« opens with a prog metal intro, into which the Enchant guys soon graft jazzy rhythmic nuances, quickly taking the song to a ‘higher level’ of ambient balance and sonic adventure. The closing »Here And Now« is among the more complex moments on »The Great Divide«, with plenty of bold keyboard improvisations, yet it still carries that ever-present subtle stamp that fits Ted’s vocal mannerisms perfectly.
Enchant are back with a very good record that will surely also appeal to fans of the current version of Spock’s Beard, since »The Great Divide« has quite a few things in common with the ‘Beard boys’ current album, »Brief Nocturnes And Dreamless Sleep« (2013), but just to the right degree, so it doesn’t come off as too similar or distracting. »The Great Divide« isn’t a masterpiece, but, as already said, it still brings some welcome, refreshing and positive changes to the recognizable Enchant sound. At the same time, it’ll almost certainly win them a few new, young fans who only recently started discovering the world of prog rock, mostly through bands signed to InsideOut Music, which, in an age when ‘music with brains’ is mostly strictly sanctioned by the big labels, is a very positive thing indeed.
Lineup
Ted Leonard – vocals, guitar
Douglas Ott – guitar
Ed Platt – bass guitar
Bill Jenkins – keyboards
Sean Flanegan – drums
Production
Douglas Ott
Tracklist
1. Circles
2. Within an Inch
3. The Great Divide
4. All Mixed Up
5. Transparent Man
6. Life in a Shadow
7. Deserve to Feel
8. Here and Now
9. Prognosticator
