Progressive rock and electronic music have always shared a symbiotic relationship. The early explorations of their fusion opened up a world of sonic possibilities, resulting in decades of boundary-breaking releases. Edison Suit, the brainchild of Mark Smith and Barry Wood, has spent years delving into the intersection of these two distinct musical realms, breaking the limitations of both genres.
After a significant break between releases, Edison Suit returned in 2023 with their third full-length album, Persistence of Vision, released under the Melodic Revolution Records label. The album embodies the duo’s philosophy of “making electronic instruments seem organic and acoustic instruments seem electronic.” It’s an ambitious goal, and one that highlights the enduring spirit of progressive music as a genre that thrives on challenge and reinvention. Edison Suit embraces this ethos, presenting an album that brims with creativity and purpose.
Spanning 12 tracks, Persistence of Vision comes forth as an endless interplay of rock and electronica. At one moment, listeners are treated to an organic, bluesy guitar solo layered over razor-sharp drum beats; the next moment, the soundscape shifts to swirling synth pads, glitches, and other electronic delicacies. Despite the potential for sonic chaos, the album feels polished and deliberate, with every element carefully controlled.
Edison Suit’s willingness to embrace the unconventional is one of their defining strengths. Take, for example, the use of violin, masterfully played by Paul McIntire, on “Deeper Into a Nether Empire,” which takes center stage alongside hypnotic rhythmic patterns. The effect is mesmerizing—chaotic yet beautiful, evoking the imagined collaboration of Comus and Tangerine Dream in an intense jam session. Meanwhile, “Breakers on the Beach of Skulls” flows through multiple passages, featuring surprisingly melodic keyboard lines paired with eerie Moog and violin synths. Yes, you read that correctly—violin synths.
For all its experimental energy, Persistence of Vision also offers moments of deliberate structure and emotional resonance. “The Breath of Gaea” feels more like a carefully composed classical piece than an exercise in freeform chaos. Tracks like “Eyes of Dust” and “Chromatic Dust” employ lush, emotive synthesizer tone. On the other hand, “Conceptual Mechanisms” ventures into more experimental territory, occasionally flirting with a Middle Eastern vibe.
The slightly retro sonic palette of “To Wound the Autumnal City” adds to its eerie, psychedelic charm, offering a sense of nostalgia without feeling dated. “Cryptical Windings” ebbs and flows with tension, echoing synth layers, creating an atmosphere of haunting introspection. “A Myriad Paths of Entropy” opens with a tranquil mandolin melody from Mark Smith, gradually building into a rich, multilayered composition. Barry Wood’s Chapman Stick work weaves through the arrangement with subtlety, while the track evolves into moments of tension, a brief detour to a serene shoreline, and finally a climax of freeform violin strains and thunderous drumming by Bret Wadams.
Persistence of Vision masterfully balances its experimental inclinations with an underlying sense of purpose and direction. For those curious about the successful melding of progressive rock and electronic music—or simply seeking something bold and imaginative—Persistence of Vision is an essential listen.
Persistence of Vision masterfully balances its experimental inclinations with an underlying sense of purpose and direction.
