The Original Cast Recording of Rags Parkland Sings the Songs of the Future doubles as a sci-fi concept album, intercutting fictional live recordings of two concerts - one that resurrects the folk music of the 23rd century’s civil rights movement, and one that places you in the heart of that life or death struggle, at the underground concert of blues rock rebels (and constructed humans) Beaux Weathers & The Future. The never before heard audio of the band’s final performance is framed by the return-to-Earth concert of The Future’s only human born member, Rags Parkland. Combined, they paint an all too familiar picture of perseverance in the face of persecution - a rallying cry for vigilance against the hatred that fuels human evil as we turn the corner into the 24th century...

Rags Parkland Sings the Songs of the Future is a musical you'll either totally love or really not get on with. The songs are very similar in style; a sort of hillbilly folk album. However, if you can overlook the style for a moment and instead focus on the project as a whole, then you'll soon grow to appreciate its finer points.

The album's booklet give a rather shallow overview of the story - but I still wasn't sure what it was really all about. Again. this isn't overly important as the music rumbles on and the production opens up to encompass more modern, engaging songs like 'Never Find Us Now'.

On balance it's mainly populated by rather cliched country folk numbers so if this isn't your bag, then you'll find little to entertain you.

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Nick Smithson