Album Review - Swan Song by The Servants of Science

Featured album this week is a new release from Brighton progsters Servants of Science. I am a lucky owner of an actual limited edition CD. Someone (it may have even been the band) told me the CD format is dead but... I just can't believe it. Anyway thank you S of S - I get to enjoy the local artwork in sumptuous cardboard sleeve (the band must have had fun walking down Brighton's London Road in space suits).

First chord into this new album from the Servants of Science and I was transported back to the Court of the Crimson King.

As for the music on The Swan Song I think the Servants are on to something with a form of focused chilled prog rock. The first crashing mellotron chord has King Crimson written all over it - the chord announcing the arrival of Servants of Science just like like King Crimson did with Epitaph back in 1969.

The Swan Song is a short album, granted, but short is good - it's actually a massive plus point - quality over quantity, continuity over random filler - a big hooray for any band these days that releases an album of 7 tracks - just 7. But it doesn't end there with that one chord...

Evidence would suggest these men have some Yes albums on their shelves

...that Crimsonesque chord sets out the S of S stall for sure, but the music that follows continues to bookmark other bands I discovered all that time ago... I can hear Camel and Nektar, there are elements of Genesis and Marillion, and the conceptual interludes especially recall Pink Floyd.

A relatively more modern reference comes in the form of The Flaming Lips. Apart from their live shows I'm not a massive fan of the Lips - mainly on account of Wayne Coyne's voice - much spectacle over little substance I feel. But the voice here is much better, and actually reminds me of Suede for some reason.

Tedium Infinitum, an obvious single if such a concept existed in prog or in tangible form is Flaming Lips covering Major Tom and could have been a massive hit in another time and space. Epic centrepiece Peripheral builds from Sigur Ros cool to a crashing Godspeed You Black Emperor climax. The eponymous track with it's echoey vocal over pulsing piano could easily be a song from The Wall although the gorgeous sustained guitar solo is very Steve Hackett. By contrast album closer, the ten minute anthemic Burning In The Cold, is more Dark Side of the Moon with a great Gilmour sounding guitar solo. Not bad references...

...and it all knits together in a coherent and satisfying whole to tell a story about an astronaut who observes the world going up in flames from space (but not before picking up a pizza on The London Road).

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