Progressive Discoveries

Progression Through Discovery


  • Music
    • CD Reviews
    • Gig Reviews
    • Progressive Discoveries
  • Wine
    • White Wine
    • Red Wine
    • Sparkling Wine
  • Books
  • Education
  • Travel
  • Novelty, Innovation, Creativity, Finesse, Wisdom
  • About
  • Contact Page

Maybeshewill – Fair Youth

12/12/2016 By Dr Rob Fisher Leave a Comment

Fair Youth is a delightful surprise which is both totally refreshing and unremittingly optimistic. This fourth studio release from the self-confessed ‘DIY’ five-piece band from Leicester sees them attempting to create “a musical solution to dealing with real world problems and difficulties.” Drawn from their experiences of sustained and relentless touring, the album explores feelings of a life spent perpetually in motion, the connections we make, the relationships which fade, people who come and go, tinges of unreality, nostalgic longings and wishful day-dreaming. And all I can conclude is that if, in comparison, my rather sedentary life felt even half as good as how this album sounds, I’d be a very, very happy person indeed!

This is my first encounter with Maybeshewill and already I am becoming a believer in the gloriously rich and experimental musical project this band are laying out before us. What instantly strikes you are the lovingly crafted and patiently unfolding crescendo of sounds which become the standout feature of this album. The music is grand, anthemic and highly dramatic, achieved not simply by gradually adding layer upon layer of instruments, but rather by carefully and intricately interleaving and interweaving the instruments, in varieties of combinations, to create new sounds and reach increasingly expansive musical peaks.

In this respect the music is hugely organic; it ebbs and flows, swells in intensity and then wanes into diffuse trance-like solitude, but always remains a constant force and emotional presence. The range of instruments used in weaving such diverse musical landscapes is impressive, not simply in virtue of the individual skills and techniques that are clearly on display but also because of the beautifully arranged mosaics that are brought into play in order to supplement, underpin and shape the character of the music you hear.

Indeed, this is where the DIY moniker truly comes into its own and helps create the distinctive Maybeshewill sound. Bassist Jamie Ward, in charge of production, assembles a richly diverse palette of samples, fragments and instruments on which to create broad musical brush strokes and paint a big canvas full of individual elements working seamlessly together. Whilst you can stand close to the canvas and marvel at these individual pieces, it’s not until you stand back and take in the whole picture that you appreciate the craftsmanship at work here. Orchestral arrangements are infused with complex (cultural) rhythms, interspersed with electronic beats; hazy live guitars breathe energetic atmospheres into echoed, almost tribal drum horizons, whilst simple piercing piano lines give way to synthesised vistas of string and percussion ensembles more associated with a classical orchestra.

The overall effect is mesmerising; by quite deliberate design there is just so much going on here that at times you simply surrender to the ceaseless incoming waves of music and allow yourself to be carried away on the moods and tides which capture and seduce. Listening to Fair Youth, you come to understand that the self imposed – and what must undoubtedly be punishing – touring is the secret behind the band’s dynamism and enthusiasm. This is music forged and refined on live stages across the world, the unique opportunities these experiences afford giving the band members a confidence in how their musical talents can interact and combine with each other whilst also providing insight into the way the music they are exploring can be shaped, influenced, played with, subverted and expanded.

Fair Youth is thoroughly enjoyable and hugely likeable. James Collins (drums), Matthew Daly (keyboards), John Helps (guitar), Robin Southby (guitar) and Jamie Ward (bass) are to be congratulated on an album which is full of inventiveness and no small degree of energy. The project on which they have embarked, self managed, self produced, is to be heartily encouraged and thoroughly supported.

Unfortunately, however, it appears that for the time being this may not happen. The band have announced they will tour again in 2016 for the last time. There are dates in Greece, Russia, Ukraine and Belgium before 4 dates in the UK in April, culminating in a final show in London. I most sincerely hope this will not be the last we see – or hear – of them. It is a project which is finishing far too soon and I am heartened to see they have not completely closed the door on there being more to come in the future. And there is so much more to come from this band: it will be a sad but patient and hopeful wait.

This review first appeared for The Progressive Aspect
http://theprogressiveaspect.net/blog/2015/12/15/maybeshewill-fair-youth/

 

Track Listing
01. … (00:54)
In Amber (05:47)
You and Me Everything in Between (04:02)
Fair Youth (04:23)
All Things Transient (04:14)
Sanctuary (03:45)
Asiatic (04:18)
Waking Life (05:48)
Permanence (04:29)
In The Blind (05:32)
Volga (06:33)

Label: Superball Music
25th August 2014

Musicians
James Collins (Drums)
Matthew Daly (Keyboards)
John Helps (Guitar)
Robin Southby (Guitar)
Jamie Ward (Bass)

Release Information
Label: Superball Music
August 25, 2014
Ltd. CD Digipak, Gatefold black LP+CD, Gatefold transp. purple LP+CD, Gatefold transp. blue LP+CD, Digital Album

Maybeshewill online:
Band website: http://www.maybeshewill.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mybshwll
Google+https://plus.google.com/+Maybeshewillofficial/posts
LastFM: http://www.maybeshewill.net/icons/lastfm.png
Spotify: http://www.maybeshewill.net/icons/spotify.png
Twitter: http://www.maybeshewill.net/icons/twitter.png

Please feel free to share this post....Share on Facebook
Facebook
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin
Email this to someone
email
Print this page
Print

Filed Under: CD Reviews Tagged With: Fair Youth, James Collins, Jamie Ward, John Helps, Math Rock, Matthew Daly, Maybeshewill, Post Rock, Robin Southby

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CAPTCHA
Refresh

*

Today’s Progressive Listening Choice

Today’s Progressive Listening Choice

5bridgeS: The Thomas Tracks: 2009

Please Note:

The web site is presently under initial construction.
  • E-mail
  • Twitter

Books

Phil Collins: Not Dead Yet

17/04/2017 By Dr Rob Fisher Leave a Comment

Time and public perception have been neither kind nor entirely fair to Phil Collins. A hugely impressive song-writer, musician, performer and (to a … Continue Reading

Justin Cronin: The Passage

01/03/2017 By Dr Rob Fisher Leave a Comment

I am normally dismissive of 'long' books. My general rule of thumb is anyone who needs more than 400 pages to tell a story probably isn't a good … Continue Reading

Alastair Reynolds: Revelation Space

26/11/2016 By Dr Rob Fisher Leave a Comment

For someone who claims to be a lover of science fiction writing it seems mighty strange that it has taken me this long to discover the literary … Continue Reading

Education

An Interdisciplinary Life

11/01/2017 By Dr Rob Fisher 2 Comments

21st century life is fundamentally interdisciplinary. From the moment we wake up to the time we go to bed, we live interdisciplinary lives. In all our … Continue Reading

Travel

Hawaii’s Secret Getaway Spots

10/10/2013 By Dr Rob Fisher Leave a Comment

Archives

  • February 2019
  • December 2018
  • September 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2013

Tags

AirbagBjørn RiisBrody GreenCam BloklandconcertCraig Blundellcrossover progDamanekDaniel TompkinsDanny LoprestoDave FosterFrançois FournierGentle Art of MusicInsideOut MusicIslington Assembly HallJean-Sébastien GoyetteJean PageauJem GodfreyJez MartinJohn MitchellKaribowKarisma RecordsKscopeMarek ArnoldMichel St-PèreMysteryNathan Kingneo progressive rockNick BeggsOakOliver RüsingProgressive MetalProgressive Promotion Recordsred wineSean TimmsSouthern EmpireSteve HackettSub89Sylvain MoineauThomas ThielenThresholdVolaWaitroseWhite Star RecordsYatim Halimi

Progression Through Discovery

Progressive Discoveries explores the worlds of progressive (rock) music, wine, education and travel, providing information, articles, reviews and opinion pieces written by Dr Rob Fisher and invited guest writers.

"Welcome to an interdisciplinary life. I care about things which have inherent meaning, value and purpose in a discordant and fractured world and passionately believe that interdisciplinarity is a way of living in the world which is capable of transforming people's lives. Being interdisciplinary gives you the tools you need to live your life more effectively and to cope a little better with making sense of the experiences we all wrestle with on a daily basis." Rob Fisher

Recent

  • Oak – False Memory Archive
  • Top Picks of 2018
  • Mystery – Lies and Butterflies
  • Southern Empire – Civilisation
  • The Paradox Twin – The Importance of Mr Bedlam
  • Queen – The O2 Arena, London, July 2018
  • Yuka and Chronoship – Ship
  • Subsignal – La Muerta

Search

Tags

Airbag Bjørn Riis Brody Green Cam Blokland concert Craig Blundell crossover prog Damanek Daniel Tompkins Danny Lopresto Dave Foster François Fournier Gentle Art of Music InsideOut Music Islington Assembly Hall Jean-Sébastien Goyette Jean Pageau Jem Godfrey Jez Martin John Mitchell Karibow Karisma Records Kscope Marek Arnold Michel St-Père Mystery Nathan King neo progressive rock Nick Beggs Oak Oliver Rüsing Progressive Metal Progressive Promotion Records red wine Sean Timms Southern Empire Steve Hackett Sub89 Sylvain Moineau Thomas Thielen Threshold Vola Waitrose White Star Records Yatim Halimi

Copyright © 2021 · Dr Rob Fisher · Progressive Discoveries · Progression through Discovery