There seem to be a million project bands within the prog genre, and I guess Kino are one of them. Comprising of John Mitchell (Lonely Robot) on vocals and guitar, Pete Trewavas (Marillion) on bass, John Beck (It Bites) keyboards, and Craig Blundell (Frost) on the drums. This is their second proper album, released in 2018.
Radio Voltaire opens up the album and it’s a great piece of modern Prog with Mitchell’s distinctive voice driving the song with lots highs and lows. The Dead Club has a great heavy riff that reminds me a tad of Porcupine Tree, but there is a lot more going on musically. Idlewild slows the groove right down and Mitchell’s voice comes over as a more melodic Peter Gabriel, at least on this track and his solo is just wonderful. I Don’t Know Why is one of three songs that Trewevas has written on the album. The song has a very late 70’s feel to it, with great vocal harmonies. The best song on the album is I Won’t Break So Easily Anymore. It harks back to Prog epics of the past. A superb song with some killer playing from all involved. Temple Tudor has a medieval vibe with a great Mitchell vocal. Out Of Time is a runner up for my favourite track on the album, as I love the main riff and groove to the song. Grey Shapes On Concrete Fields, apart from the vocal, reminds me of Genesis. Keep The Faith I would describe as a prog anthemic ballad, with a really cool melodic solo. Save the epic to the last with The Silent Fighter Pilot, a huge song that just builds and builds; a very dramatic piece. I would call this a classic mode prog record.
8.5/10 from The Grooveman.
