Mostly Autumn

'The Last Bright Light'

1. Just Moving On
2. We Come And We Go
3. Half The Mountain
4. The Eyes Of The Forest
5. The Dark Before The Dawn
6. Hollow
7. Prints In The Stone
8. The Last Bright Light
9. Never The Rainbow
10. Shrinking Violet
11. Helms Deep
12. Which Wood?
13. Mother Nature

Bryan Josh - lead and rhythm electric guitar, 6 & 12 string acoustic guitars, lead vocals, gregorian vocals
Heather Findlay - lead and background vocals, bodhran, tambourine, bells
Iain Jennings - keyboards, synthesizers, hammond organ, backing vocals, gregorian vocals
Liam Davison - electric slide guitar, 6 & 12 string acoustic guitar, lead vocals
Angela Goldthorpe - flute, recorders, renaissance recorders, backing vocals
Andy Smith - bass
Jonathan Blackmore - drums


Website: www.mostlyautumn.com


A cold wet English Sunday afternoon. An open fire and a glass of wine in hand. Perfect listening conditions for the new offering from Mostly Autumn - In fact any offering from Mostly Autumn.
It's like putting on a pair of comfortable old slippers you sort of know just what to expect verse - verse - chorus - verse - chorus building up to a 'Floyd'ulent crisp and warming guitar solo. Nothing too taxing.
Just relaxing good music.

In the now traditional Mostly Autumn manner the albums starts with the dying refrain from the final track of the previous album - In this case the gentle bliss-out of ' The Gap Is Too Wide' from The Spirit Of Autumn Past.

Once again the album features some guest appearances playing various woodwind instruments inc. Troy Donockley from Iona, but this time missing the lead Uilleann pipes. Shame, as it was his and Bryan Josh's counter-playing lead work on which The Spirit Of Autumn Past that made that album for me

So what to expect from the album - Really more of the same - If you liked the first two albums you will also like this. Its no better or worse, just really a case of retaining the status quo.

Shrinking Violet is the big standout track. Featuring Heather Findlay's wonderful vocal work it's All About Eve meet Floyd via Renaissance with the trademark Celtic atmosphere which always underlines Mostly Autumns work. Again its Heather's vocals and Bryan's guitar work combined with Iain Jennings atmospheric keyboards that make the 'Rock' band - But it's the magical woodwind backdrops that give them their unique edge.

If I do find anything to complain about - I must admit that I do sometimes wish Bryan would sometimes 'Shutup and play the guitar' a bit more and allow Heather to become the bands dominate lead vocalist. Also I'm still not impressed with the rhythm section - This is the third bassist and drummer they have had in as many years and albums so possibly they feel the same. Maybe I just like my music a little more complicated but generally the percussion work which although solid, is just a little too restrained and predictable.

Overall yes I like it, recommend it and Mostly Autumn bolster their reputation as being the UK 'Prog' band most likely to go on to commercial success. I've yet to have the pleasure of seeing them live - A vehicle where someone described them as 'Mostly Awesome'. However I did check their web-site today and they are planing a headline at London LA2 in May - This and the reprise of Mother Nature heralding the next album, I greatly look forward to …

Ian Oakley January 2001