Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Arena
Label: Verglas Records
Release: 2003
Length: 21:09
Rating: 3.5/5
In 2003, English neo-prog titans Arena took the old saying ‘strike while the iron is hot’ to heart and made the most of the interest prog rock fans had in their latest studio album. »Contagious« was the first of two promo EPs released alongside the album »Contagion« (2003). It holds four tracks that didn’t make it onto that concept-album masterpiece, even though they fit right into it, both stylistically and atmospherically. Because of space constraints, these compositions, not a single weak one among them, suffered the ‘cruel’ fate of going unnoticed by plenty of fans, who don’t even know they exist, and all just because the band didn’t want to release »Contagion« as a double album.
The punchy instrumental »Vanishing Act«, which on »Contagion« should have followed »Painted Man«, features a ‘weeping’ slide guitar solo from John Mitchell before it rides electronically tinged synth textures and metal-spiced guitar phrases into a markedly dramatic, atmospheric section. The best moment on »Contagious« is the post-apocalyptic »I Spy«, which was originally meant to come right after »Vanishing Act« in the »Contagion« running order. It opens with subtle orchestral arrangements, after which the band, with keyboard and guitar harmonies flowing around it, builds the central melody beautifully. Rob Sowden’s vocal performance, thanks to its exceptional emotional weight, is as strong as you’d expect, and on that front too this is one of the most profound compositions of the »Contagion« era.
The title track, an instrumental originally conceived as the successor to »On the Box«, with its dramatic police siren sounds, clever improvisations, synth-simulated choir harmonies and an all-around dark atmosphere, is a real feast for the ears. »The Hour Glass«, which would originally have sat after »Mea Culpa«, is an acoustic-leaning ballad with plenty of symphonic flourishes and an unusually upbeat vibe, where Sowden’s vocal is effectively backed by both Mitchell and keyboard wizard Clive Nolan. The electronically tinged remix of the »Contagion« classic »Witch Hunt« sounds like a bad joke with its dance beat, but it still comes off better than the downright chilling remix of »Salamander« from the »Contagiium« EP.
The rest of the goodies on »Contagious« belong to the multimedia section, which includes, among other things, a live video for »Skin Game«, two special versions of songs with Mitchell on lead vocals, live photos of the band and lyrics for the four tracks mentioned above. Hardly anyone would have mourned these multimedia extras much if the band had accidentally forgotten to put them on the disc, while the four tracks mentioned offer a nice glimpse of where Arena were at artistically back then and how the excellent »Contagion« might have turned out in an even more ‘complete’ form.
Every Arena fan who has had a post-apocalyptic revelation of nightmares from the depths of their subconscious while listening to the masterpiece »Contagion« should round out their listening experience with »Contagious«. Less devoted fans of (neo-)prog rock, on the other hand, don’t have much reason to go out of their way to own this quality EP, which nicely complements the original »Contagion« concept.
Lineup
Rob Sowden – vocals
Clive Nolan – keyboards, backing vocals
John Mitchell – guitar
Ian Salmon – bass guitar
Mick Pointer – drums
Production
Clive Nolan
Tracklist
1. Vanishing Act (4:13)
2. I Spy (6:07)
3. Contagious (4:23)
4. The Hour Glass (2:45)
5. Witch Hunt (special remix) (3:42)
