The history of progressive band Protos, gives the evidence of how unimaginable and unpredictable may be the fortune of the rock group. The biography of this band was elaborated when reviewing their debut album “One Day a New Horizon”. Let me remind you the fact that it was released in 1982, and Protos recorded it as a duet: Rory Ridley-Duff (k), Steve Anscombe (g). It turned out to be the priceless treasure of the British prog-rock discovered not until the arrival of the CD age. Twenty-five years after the premiere of the vinyl, when the considerable interest (mostly of the Japanese) aroused, Rory and Steve resolved to renew this record, which turned out to be a great success. The band had appeared to be doomed to an utter oblivion yet it rose like a phoenix from the ashes. The band made another well-aimed decision by bringing out the record with a completely new material. That is precisely how the new album “The Noble Pauper’s Grave” has found its way to our hands. It tells a vivid history about a man of noble birth, who abandons his background, to experience a feeling of joy and love among both poor and common people. The band Protos, (which continues to be a duet solely accompanied by a cellist – Nigel Rippon) spins a story using the instrumental compositions interlarding with narration.
Steve who, with the help of Ally Rough, interprets the story engagingly wrote the lyrics. The record consists of 13 parts. Its seven odd numbers are the lyrical pieces, whereas the album’s six even numbers come as the narration. There is an opportunity to form the music or a tale with the help of the program selection. This is what we encountered more than once in the history of light music (in “Return To The Centre Of The Earth” by Rick Wakeman). However, I admit that despite everything, the album “The Noble Pauper” is the most impressive when in the form of 51-minute narrative-musical version. The music interlarded with a narration takes on the unique expression and a genuine brilliance. In the process, it makes the individual compositions of Protos something more than simple illustrative music. Together with the words, sounds acquire significance and activate the imagination of the listener.
It is vital that we should emphasize the fact that this music reaching our ears is of a stunning beauty. The enchanting melodies, the height of the mature sound, as well as the excellent instruments and perfect interpretations are easily heard on this record. To crown it all, the epic narrative is also pervading here, for instance in the longest tracks on CD: “The Rally” and “Outcry”. The “Travels” proves itself to be extremely impressive as the lovely tune is played on the bassoon. The “Departure” is a splendid and solemn lyric finale. It illustrates the funeral of the main character. The subtle arrangements (the record is varied with the unprecedented multitude of sounds played on 12-strings guitars, saxophones, flutes, pianos and stringed instruments) which, together with the charming melodies make “The Noble Pauper’s Grave” one of the most beautiful albums released at the close of last year. It stands out against the background of the other, equally exceptionally good releases of last weeks.
Translated: Agnieszka Muszyńska
