The Procession  - Album release 'You are now leaving the Future'

The Procession - You Are Now leaving The Future.

Circular Records, CR1040

CD & Download from all majors.

As you drive along the A14 from Bury St Edmonds towards the A1 there's a wonderful break in the gloom of an achingly terrible journey. Just past some services is an old cottage/barn that's been the subject of a graffiti attack. Now, I'm not condoning spray-painting the local town, but I have always had a disturbing liking for the art, that shows in some of the photo's I shoot. Anyway, sprayed on the building are the words 'You are now leaving the future'. I've done the trip countless times and always thought to myself on passing that it would be a great name for an album. 

After fighting their way through 2000 other hopeful bands in 'Band for the day's unsigned band competition, The Procession ( James Best, Martyn Byrne, Paul Richardson and Rob Gill ) then released a four track EP 'Sometimes' which achieved critical acclaim in 2011. The release of their debut album 'You are now leaving the future' in early August this year is likely to do better in the critical forums than that, as it is really a remarkable debut.

The Procession have a certain quality that is hard to decipher. Too many times do we listen to a record and decide that it sounds like this band or it has a sound reminiscent of that band. The Procession meanwhile are strangely languishing in a music pool all of their own. They have simple guitar melodies that take you across a not too distant future's skyline whilst mesmerizingly spinning you around the synth curtain that wafts in and out now and again.

I got the wrong idea from the first track being way different to the rest but it only seems to contribute to the overall sound and quality of a great album. There are some exciting tracks in here. Some exciting sounds and samples. The varied percussion and genuinely melting harmonies prove that this lot have more arrows to their bow than Robin Hood and with the addition of backing vocals from Emma Redhead their techniques are well crafted. The Album itself has, varied content but has that 'future' theme nestled in most tracks especially in, for me the standout track 'Running Home To You', with its futuristic samples which drift into the start of the first single release 'Cease & Desist'. I get the impression that we are getting a right old lecture here about the state of the world whilst not destroying it.

'Its funny when I think and I look back now,
You know I never thought that we’d always be around,
Here before the start and long after the end,
No matter how many lawyers’ letters you send.
No…. we won't cease & desist
Yeah, we’ve got the right to exist.

The samples continue at the start of 'The Simple Things' another beautifully crafted point maker.  'You think you'll do better, When it comes to you.' The lyrical content of the whole offering shines like a New Year beacon for miles around as we finish with the brilliant 'Stopping Time'.

So, now as I'm driving along the road of misery to join up with the Great North road I'm not only admiring the handiwork on the grafittied barn but drifting back from the future on the stereo too.  A hell of a debut this............

DG

The Procession - You Are Now leaving The Future.

Circular Records, CR1040

CD & Download from all majors.