Guest
1. When Valkyries Cry (8:54) 2. For The King (7:01) 3. The Marine (5:30) 4. Confessions At Midnight (5:24) 5. The Black Line (6:12) 6. Tilting At Windmills (6:59) 7. These Four Lands (4:51) 8. Don’t Cut Down The Rose (8:14) 9. Big Data (6:32) 10. ...and Now (0:09) 11. The Loch (4:25) 12. Familiar Strangers (5:32) Total Time 67:43 - Brian Cline / vocals, guitar - Kenny Steel / guitars, keyboards, string arrangements - Bob Madsen / bass, producer With: - Jay Tausig / guitar, vocals - Chad Quist / lead & rhythm guitars - Molly Roth / backing vocals - Tevis Carbajal / backing vocals - Leeann Christopherson / backing vocals - Grant Reeves / sax (7) - Mike Van der Hule / drums This album is dedicated to the loving memory of “the other 41Point9’er“ Tom Size (October 10, 1959 - October 30, 2016). Tom was our mentor, friend, business partner, and brother in music. He is missed every damn day. This was the last project Tom worked on before his untimely passing of Melanoma Cancer and we think he would have been proud. That’s kinda heavy progressive music for sure. Though Bob Madsen and Brian Cline, the founder of 41POINT9, are claiming the mystery. ’We don’t care about styles or subjects or how a song will be classified.’ Well, always a matter of definition of course. If you will describe it as ’rather complex though very accessible rock music which will embed diverse music styles and sentiments’ ... that might be a matter of agreement, or what? Anyway, when checking their background a bit, it necessarily strikes that both are known for collaborating with Ted Leonard’s Enchant once. When it comes to the earlier days, the last century. And that must have been the starting point for their friendship and musical co-operation too. Meanwhile ’Mr. Astute Trousers’ is their sophomore album, I haven’t heard anything from the predecessor yet anyhow. Although both are building the core, at least Kenny Steel is aboard as another constant, can be seen as a steady band member therefore. There are many aspects which makes this attractive. Above all, the compositions are masterful. Garnered with Madsen’s vivid bass lines, and of course Cline’s excellent singing voice, just trying to point out the most obvious. As for the global flow, over the course, gradually, the album is getting into more shallow waters, so to say. Hence, while taking care of my preference yet, this effort offers its real strength straight from the very start. Now let the guitars speak. Enchanting melodies with singalong character are offered, definitely entertaining. This is skillfully woven, including pop moments, folk and smooth jazz sentiment, samples, electronics, as well as courageous vocal and string arrangements. This album is a must have in each and every case. Especially if you’re already keen on bands like Tiles, Spock’s Beard, Nine Stones Close and similar. Review by Rivertree
