One of the new big two of Progressive Rock, Touchstone, makes a superb comeback with the stunning new album The City Sleeps. With the last album Live in the U.S.A. still very much in the minds of the band, this new offering carries on the outstanding work that the group have created and have been admired for by their peers and fans alike.

The City Sleeps has been an endeavour of love, as none of the band members live remotely close to each other, however it’s easy to see where the sublime lyrics, the personality of the genre and the mix of beautiful, haunting music and Kim Seviour’s breath taking vocals are coming from.

Within the album there is quite frankly an abundance of musical energy that seems to be drawn together when the five members of the band are together. There is no let up, no time to be drawn into a conversation about what makes the album work, it can be simple enough when listening to it, to understand that it does. With tracks such as the dynamic and charged When Shadows Fall and the wonderful Horizons on the album it would be harsh of a critic to say that it was only passable, worth a listen or worse, a fine moment from the band. Don’t let anyone tell you anything other than it is an absolute joy!

Throughout each track, the band weaves a tale that is both gorgeous and intense. It certainly makes the most of the talent within the band and stretches them beyond the normal confines of recording an album. There are few bands that can away with this and it can be seen as the influence of their great friend and superb musician himself, John Mitchell, who mixes the album and gives it that final moment of understanding.

Paul Moorghen, Kim Seviour, Rob Cottingham, Adam Hodgson and Henry Rogers should congratulate themselves for making a stunning album; that of out all the new Progressive bands making an impact upon the old guard and stalwarts of the genre, only they could have managed it with such skill.

4 stars

Ian D. Hall