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Album Reviews
Prolusion. DAY SHIFT is a Space Metal quartet from England. Although only one year separates their debut offering, "Imaginary Menagerie", from its successor, "Of Whispers", it is certainly too early so far to consider Day Shift's work to be extensive. Generally however, these four men are productive musicians, each having several more albums to his credit. Bob Leek, Nick Beere and Jason Tilbrook were core members of Tantalus from 2000 to 2003, while Archie works on three fronts simultaneously, being also a permanent drummer for Blue Drift and The Morrigan. Analysis. Unlike "Imaginary Menagerie" which runs 42+ minutes and is made up of five tracks ranging from 6 to 14 minutes, the nearly-55-minute "Of Whispers" comprises ten relatively short pieces, only one of which exceeds 6 minutes in duration, the differences between Day Shift's two outings being not limited to these details. The band's debut effort is an even album, meaning there are no distinct winners or also-rans among the songs present. "Of Whispers" is a more contrasting creation, but some of the tracks here are definitely the group's greatest achievements both in terms of songwriting and innovation and in the effect they exert upon the listener. Well, I'll better describe the program step by step, especially since its musical evolution can easily be divided into two phases. Phase One, Ascent (with a capital letter, by your permission), includes the first six pieces. For sure, it proceeds under the sign of progression, which, overall, steadily grows from track to track. The opener, The Queen of Whispers, is driving, meaty, saturated Hard Rock-based Space Metal and is compelling despite the numerous repetitions and the shortage of purely instrumental movements. Really! Maintaining the traditions of such of the genre's trendsetters as Hawkwind, Clear Blue Sky and Eloy, the heroes of this occasion seem to have not forgotten to take that magical wand from their benefactors which makes highly impressive even the most accessible of their best creations. Besides, the song stands out for an effective contrast between the pushing, positively violent maneuvers on the instrumental plane and the restrained, sort of laid back vocals, which in turn is one of the hallmarks of the entire album. Beginning with the second track, the synthesizer solos (sequenced and directly performed alike) become an integral part of the picture. Having noted this, I feel free to say that Evil People in Cars is basically much in the same style as The Queen of Whispers, but has a much more interesting instrumental background. The first in the series of compositions with really diverse and innovative interactions between all the instruments credited, it possesses an even stronger power to bewitch than its predecessor. Sand Head is Space Rock that rocks without being heavy and is the richest in contrasting paces. On The Burning Bush, Little Steps and Shift, the group continue developing the essence of the opening song, involving more and more instruments and sounds in the arrangement, revealing a lot of highly original creative ideas. All three are remarkable, though my favorite track on the album would probably be the latter, featuring a rather long, mysteriously sounding instrumental interlude-interplay between the pulsating bass and the monumental synthesizer, which reminds me of Stonehenge or Sphinx from Black Sabbath's '80s repertoire ("Born Again" and "Seventh Star", to be more precise). Pure magic. Phase Two, Descent, begins with Drift, which is the only instrumental composition on the CD. The music is symphonic Space Rock, and while there is a smell of electronic music too, it's clear that it was created artificially - by the use of sequenced synthesizer solo which runs all through the piece (and not to the detriment of the overall picture). Overall, Drift can also be regarded as one of the recording's highlights, and the only problem I have with this piece is its likeness to On the Run from "The Dark Side of the Moon" by Pink Floyd, though aurally it's closer to Hawkwind's "Out & Intake". Out of My Skin is traditional Hard Rock with only a slightly spacey feeling, but is good, at least as long as it is viewed within that category. A real tendency to regress becomes obvious on the next track, while the ending of the album is just disappointing. Both the last two songs, Undercover and Never, are quite ordinary song-based Rock ballads, but the latter is especially trivial, filled with an atypical romantic atmosphere, and is overextended in addition. I don't find Undercover to be also a makeweight - not at all, but anyway it is far from being an essential composition. Conclusion. Without the last two tracks "Of Whispers" would have run 42+ minutes and been much more coherent and compelling. Nevertheless, most of the album displays that Day Shift move forward in their work, some of the songs being excellent in every respect. Just like the band's debut offering, "Of Whispers" is not destined for Symphonic Prog lovers and can be recommended exclusively to fans of Space Rock / Metal. Those liking "The Chronicle of the Black Sword" by Hawkwind and Clear Blue Sky's "Mirror of the Stars" should be the first to check this CD out. Play it loud for best effect. VM: November 4, 2006 DAY SHIFT - "Of Whispers" CD '06 (Private, Eng) - I love unexpected surprises, unless of course they're bills, subpeonas, search warrants, you know, that kinda thing. This type, though, I dig and it's the 2nd effort from England's DAY SHIFT, which I didn't even realize had been recorded when it came sliding out of the ol' Realm mailbox. On "Of Whispers," these cats continue with their style of truly original & yes, progressive rock. This time however, instead of the long, concept pieces of their last one, they deliver 10 more "song"-oriented tracks but never fear. This is no mainstreaming effort, just more tune-conscious. Still to the fore are their modernly-psychy & yet catchy structures, punctuated by the emotive vocals of Bob Leek and a generous scoop of excellent lead guitar from Nick Beere. And that, my friends, as should come as no surprise is why I dig these guys a lot...GUITAR! It permeates cuts like "Evil People In Cars" (hmmm...I was just thinking that on the Beltway today), "The Burning Bush" & "Undercover." So, if you like things of a more proggy/psych style but are sick of wimpy keys, don't whisper, shout for this one. Published on: 13 Jul 2006
Most of the tracks on Of Whispers are in the 4 to 5 minute range and they are structured in typical hard rock fashion. What makes Day Shift's music attractive to most Prog fans is the great musicianship featured in every piece and the excellent spacey keyboards that are all over the album. Add to that some very well written and original songs and a lead singer that has an excellent voice and uses it well. Fans of the song based material of Porcupine Tree or of Kino, Jadis and even Asia should really check this album out. Recommended indeed!! Marc Published on: 12 Dec 2005
All the songs on the album are quite good but the last one "The Unwashed Platypus ", clocking at about 12 minutes and having three different sections, should be the one that Prog fans will like the most. Bob Leek is a very good singer, his voice being close to Steven Wilson but, at times, also reminding of John Wetton. Imaginary Menagerie is Day Shift's first album but listening to it I am convinced that these guys have been at it for quite a while, because they offer us some very mature music and perform it flawlessly. Imaginary Menagerie is a great album and the many fans of Porcupine Tree and the recent albums by Anathema should really enjoy it. Highly recommended. Marc http://www.aural-innovations.com/issues/issue32/dshift01.html From Aural Innovations #32 (November 2005) Day Shift are from the south of England, and though they only formed in 2004 they've released a strong debut album that features a tight quintet that play a space, psych and progressive influenced brand of song oriented hard rock. The band consists of Bob Leek on vocals & synths, Nick Neere on guitar, Jason Tilbrook on bass, Archie on drums and Henry Crud on theremin (wasn't Henry Crud a Goon Show character?). I see on their links page that Archie also drums for Blue Drift and The Morrigan, both prog rock bands we've reviewed in the past. The CD opens with "The Clothes Horse", a tight and heavy hard rock number with psychedelic and prog rock influences, a solid melodic sense, and nicely embellished with bubbling space rock synths. A strong opening track. "The Happy Elephant" continues down a similar road, but this is a really hot track that brings to mind the last few Porcupine Tree albums, but with the spacey influences that Mssr. Wilson seems to have dispensed with. A killer tune that beautifully incorporates space rock and psychedelia into a song oriented hard rock context. "The Alternative Magpie" and "The Abstracted Sloth" are more strong songs with an excellent blend of hard rock and psychedelia, the later colored by Ozric Tentacles styled keyboards and some killer soaring spacey guitar licks. "The Unwashed Platypus" is the closing track and starts off very mellow and drifting, and reminds me a lot of earlier Porcupine Tree. It builds up slowly, the volume and intensity level building while retaining a floating quality. Then a few minutes into the song Nick takes off on an out of this world guitar solo that recalls the most tasteful of Dave Gilmour moments. The band soon starts to rock out, only to recede and transition to a spaced out, flowing synth segment that's like a cross between the Ozrics and Harvey Bainbridge. And at 14 minutes these guys really take off and jam on what is their most overtly space rock track of the set. Outstanding!! In summary, Imaginary Menagerie is a potent set, with well written songs and driven by a knockout punch guitar style. If Day Shift are this good after only having been together since 2004 then they've got nowhere to go but up. I hope to hear more from them soon. Reviewed by Jerry Kranitz http://www.progressor.net/review/day_shift_2005.html
Prolusion. The press kit I've
found in the package somewhat laconically presents the makers of this
CD, saying just that England's DAY SHIFT releases their debut album
"Imaginary Menagerie" about a year after the band's birth. All
four of the musicians, whose names you can see in the lineup above, are
no novices on the music scene. Bob, Jason and Nick were core members of
Tantalus from 2000 to 2003. As for Archie, I am certain this is the same
guy whose excellent drumming is featured on all but the very first CD by
The
Morrigan, as well as both of those Blue
Drift recorded so far.
Analysis. Day Shift's music has nothing in common with that of any of the bands these men played in before, and I would've been surprised had it been otherwise. They aren't youngsters after all, as we've found out already:-), although that's not actually the point. Bob Leek and Jason Tilbrook both contributed solidly to the songwriting department of the latest Tantalus album, "Lumen et Caligo-I", having shown an independent approach to composition, quite different from that of Tantalus's founder Max Hunt. Although I am not about to dispute furiously that "Imaginary Menagerie" is unique from head to toe, I am not going to understate Day Shift's achievements in the field of originality either. In other words, while the style the group has chosen isn't new, the music is free of anyone's direct influences. Accordingly, I'd ask the readers to regard all reference points I use here primarily as relative. Four moderately long songs and one epic form the content of this 42-minute album, already the first track, The Clothes Horse, giving the listener a rather vivid idea of what Day Shift's principal bag is about. This is driving, infectious Space Rock-meets-Space Metal, with crunchy guitar riffs forming much of the background for interactions between (another, soloing) guitar, bass and synthesizer, accentuated by effectively complicated drum beats. As almost everywhere on the album, there are only three, at most four different vocal themes here, but Bob Leek's singing as such is highly diverse and emotional. Besides which, the vocals are probably the most original voice in this ensemble; they're as if laid back from the events that attend them on the instrumental plane and are always contrasting with those. The repetitions take place mainly only in the vocal sections, both essential and unnecessary, but even the latter appear to be rather unobtrusive, serving for the intensification of a hypnotic component, which in turn serves as a kind of guide for the untried listener to reach and taste all the hidden psychedelicacies (with your permission). The Abstracted Sloth is of the same story overall, as also is The Happy Elephant, whose lack of purely instrumental arrangements is in many ways compensated for by the highly memorable thematic interplay between all the musicians in the introductory movement, which later becomes one of the central themes of the song. The initiators of the implied Space Rock direction, Clear Blue Sky and Hawkwind, have subjected the style to many changes during their long history. Well, I'm just trying to tell you that the three said compositions are closer to the latest rather than earlier achievements of these bands. The Alternative Magpie is basically slow throughout, combining the album's primary style with a ballad-like approach. This song reminds me a bit of Deadline from Blue Oyster Cult's "Cultosaurus Erectus", although the cited example doesn't have an electronic sense and is perhaps another story altogether. The 14-minute epic The Unwashed Platypus concludes the album like a triumphal (though unexpressed) fanfare. This is a fully-fledged Space Rock suite with numerous different sections, revealing a fine balance between the vocal-based and purely instrumental arrangements, the latter being especially diverse and inventive. The cut begins with a slow organ-laden theme, straying not far away from the path Pink Floyd paved while visiting "The Dark Side of the Moon", but the resemblance dissolves like a mirage in the air as soon as the vocals appear. One of the most compelling episodes here is when the band very subtly begins to gather momentum, finally rocketing to find themselves far beyond familiar space spheres. Conclusion. If classic Space Rock / Space Metal (some people may call it Stoner Rock, but not I) with occasional electronic tendencies is your cup of tea, your day will come as soon as you get "Imaginary Menagerie" by Day Shift. I like it. VM: March 8, 2006 Strutter Magazine Review DAY
SHIFT ‘OF WHISPERS’ (INDEPENDENT) Good
to see a few good releases out of the (Points:
8.3 out of 10)
Strutter Magazine Review (16/04/06) DÁY
SHIFT ‘IMAGINARY MENAGERIE’ (INDEPENDENT) Formed
just 2 years ago, but already a strong full-length CD out, the UK based
band DAY SHIFT is playing a modern type of Progressive Rockstyle, with
strong melodies and a very good lead singer, kinda like ENCHANT and JADIS,
but then with a more modern rockier edge (a la FLAMBOROUGH HEAD), although
with 5 songs of 10+ minutes, this is definitely something for the progfans!
This particular CD was released last year and already they are working on
a new CD. Productive band with a strong high quality sound. Check it out
for yourself at: http://www.dayshift.co.uk
and e-mail them at: info@dayshift.co.uk
http://www.dprp.net/reviews/200558.html#dayshift The Dutch progressive Rock Page Review Day Shift - Imaginary Menagerie Tracklist: The Clothes Horse (6:40), The Happy Elephant (6:11), The Alternative Magpie( 8:05), The Abstracted Sloth (7:08), The Unwashed Platypus (14:06) Day Shift was an unknown band for me, but after listening to their debut album for a couple of times I am hooked. Based in the south of England Day Shift set out on a tripped out psychedelic bliss of guitar riffs/melodies and dark side drum beats, reminding me of Porcupine Tree, Anathema and Blackfield. The completely weird lyrics were penned by cabaret musician and self-described "musical prostitute with the morals of a tapeworm" Henry Crud. The opening song has a truly addictive guitar riff and a long heavenly rather distorted guitar solo, making it clear that this is not just an ordinary album. The Happy Elephant features an Oriental guitar melody intro, followed by a funky rhythm and soaring vocals by Bob Leek. The third track is a typical English prog rock track with lots of influences from earlier mentioned bands. It is a mid tempo song with sometimes whining vocals and again an amazing guitar solo by Nick Beere. The Abstracted Sloth starts with keyboards and a heavy bass line, followed by a real Porcupine Tree guitar riff. This track develops into a psychedelic song with lots of soundscapes and again a stunning, speedy guitar solo. The highlight of this fascinating CD is the longest song called The Unwashed Platypus. This is a truly diverse song with lots of twists and turns, starting with a keys and guitar intro, followed by lots of space rock musical elements, where again PT comes to mind. There are even two Pink Floyd-like guitar solos in this song, making the guitar again the dominant factor in Day Shift's music. A great album by a very promising typical English band. If you like PT and Anathema then you should give this album a chance. Try to figure out what they mean with their absolutely Monty Python-like lyrics and listen to this album in the dark at maximum volume and you will not believe your ears. Truly highly recommended!! Conclusion: 9 out of 10 DPRP Reviews - 2005 - Volume 58 http://www.psychedelic-music.net/ This debut of 5 guys from South England will remind you of Porcupine Tree. Sweet catchy melodies, clear and bright guitars, driving drums lead to a 14 minutes journey to spacy outskirts. http://www.musicinbelgium.net/ DAY SHIFT - Imaginary Menagerie Les anglais de Day
Shift se sont formés en 2004. "Imaginary Menagerie"
est leur tout premier album. Le groupe est composé de Bob Leek
(chant, synthés), Nick Beere (guitare), Jason Tilbrook (basse),
Archie (batterie) et Henry Crud (paroles, Theremin). Ajouté: 19-Dec-2005 Day Shift – Imaginary MenagerieHere's one for the Porcupine Tree fans
out there. For Day Shift operate in the same twilight world as PT, with a
trippy psychedelic guitar sound combining with a darkwave sensibility,
offset by the downright odd lyrics courtesy of the self-described 'musical
prostitute with the morals of a tapeworm', Henry Crud. The PT influences
also permeate the fabulous sounds. Reviewer: Stuart aka Zeitgeist Score:   Barikada - World Of Music Reviews 'Imaginary Menagerie' Iz juznog dela Engleske dolazi sastav naziva Day Shift. Iako po godinama mladi, clanovi postave su imali ranijeg iskustva, a bubnjar Archie, izmedju ostalog, svira i u bendu Blue Drift, o cijem albumu sam takodje imao priliku ranije da pisem. Postoje vrlo kratak vremenski period, tacnije, od druge polovine 2004. godine, a tokom 2005. godine objavili su svoje debitantsko izdanje za koje su dobili prilican broj pohvala u specijalizovanim magazinima i web zinima. Bend predvodi pevac i klavijaturista Bob Leek koji je najzasluzniji za muziku, a takodje je pisao i tekstove za dve od pet numera sa izdanja. Za ostale tri, zasluge za tekstualni deo pripadaju kabaretskom umetniku Henry Crudu. Mnogi tamosnji analiticari poredili su izraz benda sa nasledjem akta Porcupine Tree, medjutim, Day Shift su, moze se to sa punim pravom tvrditi, originalan akt koji je ponudio svoje vidjenje space rock / progressive zanra. U bendovom izrazu osecaju se influence pridosle iz British progressive pokreta iz prve polovine 70-tih godina, kao i neki sofisticiraniji, ali takodje, i agresivniji detalji vidjeni preko aranzmanskih resenja koji podsecaju na poslednju fazu radova grupe Soft Machine, kao i solo ploce Pink Floyd gitariste - Dave Gilmourea. Produkcija gitariste Nick Beerea maksimalno je osavremenila izraz benda, i sve u svemu, nema sumnje da je britanski sastav objavio izuzetno kvalitetno debi ostvarenje. Ocena: 9 / 10 Review in Feedback Magazine - Issue 86 Only formed in 2004, these guys are already in the throes of recording their second album, hot on the heels of this debut which came out last year. They call themselves a psychedelic space rock band, and apart from the fact that they are missing out the fact that they also contain prog influences (is space rock a subset of prog, or are they independent subsets of rock? - discuss). But these guys are far more than a Hawkwind clones - yes, they do include some keyboard sounds that are similar, as are some of the riff styles, but they are actually very different indeed. They actually have more in common with Porcupine Tree, and I am amazed that the debut is self-produced as the sound is very strong indeed - and any band that admits to using a theremin has to be okay! Five numbers, at just over 42 minutes long, with the last ("The Unwashed Platypus") being the longest at just over 12 minutes - this is an album that space rockers are goig to love. Bob Leek's vocals are more clear and distinct than is often the case with the genre which means that he quite easily cuts through the mass of noise created by Nick Beere (guitar), Jason Tilbrook (bass) and Archie (drums) - Bob plays the keyboards himself as well as being lead singer, but any thoughts of these guys being Coldplay should be quickly dispelled. A very enjoyable album indeed and I look forward to the next one with great interest - and do you know what is good news as well? These guys are British, and touring, and need your support. For more details visit www.dayshift.co.uk DAY SHIFT - “Imaginary Menagerie” CD ’05 (Private, Eng) – It’s cool when things just come flying at you without warning. You know, you figure your taxes wrong, send in a check & the IRS sends one back for $ 50,000? You walk into a Dodge dealer to look at a mini-van & ‘cause you’re the millionth customer, they give you a Viper? Your wife introduces you to her long lost cousin from Oregon who looks like Jill Hennessey & asks you if you’ll spend the night with her ‘cause she’s been lonely? Ok, maybe none of those things has happened to me, but I did get this CD from DAY SHIFT without even asking for it. We’ve been through the whole “prog” thing on here ad nauseam but here’s the bottom line. DAY SHIFT writes long songs that don’t seem long. They have catchy parts that blend together, really unusual, well-written lyrics & a singer who doesn’t sound like he’s had his balls caught in a lawn mower. They also have something that makes things work for me, baby, & that’s kick ass lead guitar, courtesy of one Nick Beere. They don’t sound like Yes, Genesis or Pink Floyd and they have a song called “The Abstracted Sloth” as well as one known as “The Unwashed Platypus.” In other words, get off this stupid-assed site now and order this CD as it’s cool as shit. |
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