Release date: May 15, 2020
Label: Inside Out Music
Production: John Boegehold
Length: 55:30
Genre: progressive rock
Rating: 9.5/10
The dust that went up among prog rock fans when their self-titled debut dropped hadn’t even settled yet when Pattern-Seeking Animals went and recorded and released their second album, “Prehensile Tales”, the very next year. These days, that kind of move is incredibly rare, unlike in the seventies, when plenty of prog bands had no trouble putting out new studio albums year after year, or even two in the same year. The four excellent musicians, best known for their work with the cult American prog revivalists Spock’s Beard, have shifted into an even ‘higher gear’ on “Prehensile Tales” compared to the great debut, delivering a more eclectic and more interesting record that refines and builds on their sound. At the same time, in terms of songwriting and arrangements, they’ve drifted a bit further away from the comparisons to the ‘Spock’s Beard guys’ that were often pretty obvious on the debut.
That twist on the expected rhythmic and arrangement moves kicks in right away with the opener “Raining Hard in Heaven”, which starts out with a disco beat and an almost pop-rock ambient vibe before morphing into a full-on symphonic prog adventure with a melodic chorus, brilliant harmonies and hypnotic orchestral arrangements. Most of the guitar solos on the album come from singer Ted Leonard, while John Boegehold played all the keyboards. His songwriting ideas are the driving force behind this seriously ambitious band, which has now recorded its second studio album in a really short time, and with great results. “Here in My Autumn”, with its keyboard-simulated string arrangements and mighty chorus, is yet another vivid proof of the outstanding songwriting chops and instrumental skills of this up-and-coming yet seasoned foursome.
“Elegant Vampires”, a song full of shifting moods, often brings classic Kansas to mind, thanks to some synth textures imitating an electric violin and the color of Leonard’s vocals. Kansas, alongside Genesis, Yes and the Beatles, is without a doubt one of the biggest influences on the musical voice of the Pattern-Seeking Animals members. Of all the tracks on “Prehensile Tales”, this one has the most in common with Spock’s Beard. “Why Don’t We Run”, which features elements of flamenco and jazz fusion plus some downright dizzying drumming from Jimmy Keagan, opens with a ‘Chinese’ motif before going through a whole series of stylistic shifts.
“Lifeboat” is a seventeen-minute eclectic prog epic with loads of mood changes and complex instrumental sections, one that all fans of unpredictable prog adventures will love. You can even pick up some stylistic similarities to modern-day Marillion on it, especially in the middle part, where a melancholic section with orchestral arrangements takes over.
The closing, deeply melancholic epic “Soon But Not Today” is full of fun surprises, even though it opens as an orchestral ballad. That lasts only until the first tempo change, when the escalating rhythmic drama brings the song’s thoroughly eclectic nature to the surface. The instrumental middle section will remind many of the Peter Gabriel era of Genesis, while the closing guitar solo in the middle of the orchestral section sounds more than clearly like Brian May, or Queen.
“Prehensile Tales” is an upgrade on the Pattern-Seeking Animals debut in every way. With its superb production, enviable virtuosity and adventurous, eclectic flights of fancy, this album is bound to enchant every prog rock gourmand, and not just fans of Spock’s Beard. Pattern-Seeking Animals are drifting further and further away from the latter, mostly thanks to Boegehold’s songwriting ideas and arrangements, which is good news for everyone who shrugged off their debut, saying nobody needs two stylistically near-identical bands. As for whether “Prehensile Tales” is one of the top contenders for the best prog rock album of 2020, there’s really no need to even wonder.
Review by: Peter Podbrežnik
Track list:
1. Raining Hard in Heaven (8:31)
2. Here in My Autumn (7:57)
3. Elegant Vampires (4:30)
4. Why Don’t We Run? (5:09)
5. Lifeboat (17:20)
6. Soon But Not Today (12:03)
Pattern-Seeking Animals:
Ted Leonard – lead vocals
John Boegehold – keyboards
Dave Meros – bass guitar
Jimmy Keegan – drums, backing vocals
