Label: Esoteric Antenna
Date: February 26, 2021
Produced by: Blue Weaver
Album length: 39.01 min
Genre: Progressive Rock
Rating: 9.0/10
»Settlement« is the twenty-first studio album from the English prog rock patriarchs Strawbs, who will be celebrating their sixtieth anniversary in three years, if they’re still together by then. That makes them, alongside The Moody Blues, who’ve also been on the scene since 1964, the oldest English progressive rock band still going. Longtime masters of elegantly and often passionately blending symphonic and acoustic arrangements, best known for the cult album »Bursting at the Seams« (1973), which gave us their two biggest hits, »Part of the Union« and »Lay Down, they’ve stayed very active well into the 21st century. Strawbs, also famous for once having keyboard wizard Rick Wakeman in the ranks (and later his sons Oliver and Adam) before he joined Yes, are still in better shape than plenty of their contemporaries under the leadership of the last remaining founding member, guitarist/vocalist Dave Cousins.
Proof of that is »Settlement, their second album with keyboardist Dave Bainbridge, following the excellent »The Ferryman’s Curse« (2017). Bainbridge has definitely brought a fresh energy to a band that has often been known for its great keyboardists (and not just the ones named Wakeman), and you can hear it on »Settlement« too. Most of the songs feature dark ambient moods and bitter, socially critical lyrics, which is no surprise, since the album was made in the grueling, crisis-ridden time after the pandemic was declared, when Strawbs were left without live shows and normal recording conditions. Still, they found their footing and recorded yet another superb album that will delight all the longtime fans and surely win them a few new ones.
The album was produced by former Strawbs keyboardist Blue Weaver, who also once worked with the Bee Gees, while the guests that stand out are former bassist John Ford and singer Cathryn Craig. On »Settlement« Strawbs keep their recognizable sound, which is closest to symphonic prog rock with slight folk rock shades, mainly thanks to the sheer amount of acoustic guitar arrangements. At moments, individual tracks come very close to their best days and albums like »Grave New World« (1972) and »Bursting At the Seams«, even though the production often sounds modern, while some of the keyboard arrangements and rhythmic touches occasionally ‘step out’ of the seventies. The tooth of time has noticeably gnawed at Cousins’ vocals, but the guy still gets by pretty well most of the time and doesn’t overreach by straying from his usual midrange.
The album opens with the title track, which packs a pretty dark ambient charge, a nicely salted guitar riff and extensive use of the mellotron, enough to grab the attention of every fan of the classic Strawbs era. »Strange Times« is a lovely, acoustic-driven ballad with a nostalgic tint and plenty of symphonic ‘shades’, which also recalls the ‘good old days’ of this cult band. »Judgement Day«, ruled by nostalgic guitar harmonies and somewhat repetitive rhythms, surprises with its noticeably more modern production approach. »Each Manner of Man«, steeped in nostalgic acoustic guitar and organ arrangements, is among the more ambitious moments on this album and features John Ford on lead vocals. The folk rock ballad »The Visit« recalls their folk rock beginnings, when they played music similar to Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span, that is, before Rick Wakeman joined and helped steer them toward progressive rock.
»Flying Free« is a folk rock-leaning instrumental that also harks back to the early years of this unforgettable English band. »Quicksilver Days« is a short, gloomy ballad that leaves you with mixed feelings. The epic »We Are Everyone« is an optimistic, rousing moment and without a doubt one of the album’s highlights. The multi-voiced chorus works especially well here, with a guest singer keeping Cousins company on vocals, while longtime guitarist Dave Lambert comes alive with a short but witty solo. The instrumental »Chorale«, on which Bainbridge shows off his mastery of building authentic seventies keyboard sounds and gorgeous symphonic arrangements, is a triumphant finale to »Settlement« and pretty much the perfect ending to the Strawbs saga.
»Settlement« came out at just the right time, when new albums from the surviving bands of prog rock’s golden age are in chronically short supply. Sadly, the members of Strawbs announced before its release that this would be their final studio album, so we most likely won’t hear any more new music from them, at least not as a collective under the legendary name. Cousins is already 76, and you have to understand, in a way, that he wants to spend the autumn of his life doing something other than carrying on a professional music career to the very end. Even so, longtime fans don’t have much reason to mourn, because with »Settlement« Strawbs said goodbye (at least in the studio sense) in the best possible way.
Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Track list:
1. Settlement (5:00)
2. Strange Times (4:30)
3. Judgement Day (7:14)
4. Each Manner Of Man (4:28)
5. The Visit (4:45)
6. Flying Free (2:13)
7. Quicksilver Days (2:30)
8. We Are Everyone (5:08)
9. Chorale (3:13)
Lineup:
Dave Cousins – vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, electric dulcimer
– Dave Lambert – backing vocals, electric and acoustic guitars
– Dave Bainbridge – keyboards, electric and acoustic guitars, Hammond organ
– Chas Cronk – vocals, bass guitar, 12-string guitar
– Tony Fernandez – drums, percussion
Guest musicians:
Cathryn Craig – vocals
John Ford – bass guitar
Schalk Joubert – bass guitar
