In June of 2018, I began writing album reviews for Bandwagon Network Radio. That very first album was by the band I am about to review once more, Hat’s Off Gentleman It’s Adequate.. And as I begin this review, I am taken back to the first time that I had the pleasure of hearing this truly amazing band. To say that I was completely blown away would be an understatement. The sheer musicality of this band and its members is something to truly hear and partake of.
The bands new album, “Out Of Mind”, is a thought provoking concept album consisting of 12 tracks that delve into the thought processes and synapses of ones memory, whether in a human being or an artificial intelligence, and how the memory can affect and even sometimes alter ones subconscious and consciousness of being. It truly is deep, and it truly is stellar.
“Coming Back (Time Out Of Joint)” sets the tone for this album with its driving rhythm section and lyrics that tell a tale of the mind in its state of confusion when it comes to the thoughts of memory and how sometimes what eventually is written down can sometimes be a stretch of the truth. It’s a struggle of consciousness and being when it comes to memory sometimes, and the lyrics allude to that concept. This all makes me think of memories as if they were a fisherman’s tale. When told over and over, the truth begins to stretch in the mind over time until the person telling the tale doesn’t have a clue of what is real and what is not. Once again, Malcolm Galloway and Mark Gatland have created a Progressive Rock masterpiece that expresses itself throughout “Out Of Mind”.
“When I Was A Ship” has some of the most beautiful and melodic keyboard music I have ever heard. Eloquent in a way that you will find yourself getting lost in its beauty until the crescendo of the mid section of the song kicks in with an awakening that ends yet again within the etherealness of the entanglement of its artificial intelligence realizing that the ship and her memory is battling to become as prominent as it once was throughout its life span.
A lot of thought was put into the making of this album’s 12 tracks, and the essence of this album as a whole is to make you think of the memories that once were, and the memories and what they’ve become now, as well as the impact that they have upon our lives now.
One realization that I have is that Hats Off Gentleman It’s Adequate is a truly great band, and it shows throughout the amazing journey of this album. They can Rock and it shows on tracks like the instrumental “Defiance” and songs like “Stand Up”, and “The Electric Ant”. The aforementioned song contains some of the best vocals, co-lead vocals, and flute work by Kathryn Thomas and really make this songs concept explosive in so many ways, not to mention that the bass guitar is just absolutely killer!
I could just go on and on about this album and the songs “The Rose That Was Red”, “In The Dark, “I Miss The Stars”, and “Losing Myself”. I urge you, if you are a lover of truly amazing music, to get your hands on a copy of “Out Of Mind”. You will not be disappointed!
“Lidice” ends the album and I must say that it is just ace in every way. The music, all of the guitars, keyboards, flute work, vocals, everything is a musical journey that illicits so many thoughts and makes the mind sojourn and reflect upon its travels.
My hat is off to these remarkable individuals who have created such a brilliant and inspired work of musical and conceptual art. One that I know that the many who have the good fortune to listen to it in its entirety will be talking about for years to come!
