Halcyon Phase is an Ottawa, Ontario based progressive rock duo comprised of Frank Smith and Phil Bova, who back in September released the project’s sophomore studio album, Critical Misunderstandings on the Precipice. The album comes three years after the release of debut Tendrils, and according to the band, “songs address the state of the world, human relationships, actions and inaction, at a particularly perilous moment in our history.”
Critical Misunderstandings on the Precipice represents the distillation of genre’s rich work into a compact and song-oriented release. It’s bite-sized, catchy and is entirely content to flip tones on the change of a song. The songwriting duo utilizes the same instrumental range; they are joined by a line-up of guest musicians including drummer Gord Finley, guitarist John Fraser Findlay, and vocalists Kellylee Evans, Shannon Ross, Tara Holloway, Jeremy Abboud, and Michael Belanger.
Halcyon Phase certainly don’t lack experience to produce an astonishing release, and with Critical Misunderstandings they did just that. The songs on this thrilling longplayer cover a wide range of sounds and ideas. It seems like the group members having found an endless source of creativity which results in songs like the magic opener “Mean Streets.”
Displaying a blend of warm folky ballads, alternative rockers, and even gospel touches here and there, Halcyon Phase’s music here is pretty diverse and serves as a great backdrop for vocals which, let’s face it, are still the main focus here. Among the most impressive things the record manages to accomplish is establishing a powerful chemistry between singing and the instrumentation, which intertwine in a variety of interesting ways. The way Smith’s vocal work and guitar playing combine in a song creates an intimate atmosphere that makes for an extremely passionate performance. You’ll be able to hear a pin drop during a stunning instrumental break as the guitar work quietly modulates through multiple keys with some absolutely gorgeous finger-picking. Songs like “AI World” and “Blank Page” follow a similar path, albeit in a more melancholic fashion, despite repeating its main motif quite a bit, they are pieces that have potential to never grow old.
There are, however, many times in which Halcyon Phase completely overpower the instrumentation 100%, such as in “We Feel” or “Not Enough.” On many occasions here Frank Smith holds a note with his head-voice, along with actually going up a few notes in the process; it is at this point that you realize that he is in full control of this entire record.
Critical Misunderstandings on the Precipice is a shining release that has the potential to stand in line with some of the genre’s favorite classics. It is a beautiful magnum opus featuring timeless music that belongs to the best things I’ve heard over the last years. Calling this album your own is a ‘must’ for fans of very well-done rock music, with a passion for outstanding soundscapes, build on a high level of quality by acting as a carrier for an interesting story. This album is big.
Listen to Critical Misunderstandings on the Precipice on Bandcamp. Follow Halcyon Phase on Facebook, and for more about the band visit their website.
Critical Misunderstandings on the Precipice is a shining release that has the potential to stand in line with some of the genre’s favorite classics.
