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Capability Brown "Voice" (UK Rock 1973)

Capability Brown were a British group that consisted of 6 members and released two albums on Charisma. "Voice" was the second of them, and is usually praised for "Circumstances" that takes up the whole of side 2. I'm almost tempted to call this the 20-minute suite that Gentle Giant never recorded, but the GG-similarities are only in the band's vocal-harmonies and in some of the medieval-influenced parts of the track. Anyway, "Circumstances" is a very complex and well-composed piece of progressive rock and it evolves all the time during the 20-minutes it lasts without loosing the continuous flow. The track varies from medieval-influenced parts with recorder and harpsichord to heavy-prog passages with aggressive guitar-riffs and then to full-blown symphonic progressive parts with Mellotron. And the band's very impressive vocal-harmonies are present all the time. Good stuff. Side 1 is less impressive and progressive, but it's still quite decent 70's rock. It opens with a version of "I Am and so are You" and some of you will also remember this track from Affinity's album. "Sad am I" is a nice and atmospheric track with a fine melody and lots of airy 12-string guitar work. "Midnight Cruiser" is on the other hand rather tedious and repetitive and stands as the album's weak spot. The humourous titled "Keep Death off the Road (Drive on the Pavement)" is a rocking track with lots of energy and joy from the band. But "Circumstances" is with no doubt the main reason for having this album. ~vintageprog.com