The Tangent's new LP, Auto Reconnaissance, is released via InsideOut Music and features a 7 tracks (1 hr, 18 min, 24 sec) menu that includes Prog Rock Foot Stomping, some of the band's most sublime Jazz to date, humour, narrative, a modern R&B love song(!), straight pop music,funk/soul and a 28 minute long emotional epic about the band's home country of England, laden with orchestration, instrumentals, melodies and Andy Tillison's trademark story-telling...

Prog Rock is how the PR blurb defines the majority of the content on Auto Reconnaissance. And if you're a huge fan of Prog Rock of the '70s then you're in for a retro treat here. Andy Tillison's storytelling comes to the fore on tracks like 'Jinxed In Jersey', where he relays an interesting tale of arriving in New York and being keen to visit the Statue of Liberty, but not via the usual tourist attractions.

It's certainly an album you'll love or not get on with. The retro feel won't be to everyone's taste but the payoff is that this is more an experience than it is an album of music. Storytelling is very important here and Tillison's patter is hard to resist. Sure, his singing leaves a lot to be desired, but were here for the adventure, not the vocals.

6

Nick Smithson