John Wesley - A Way You'll Never Be (2016)

In the modern scheme of progressive music, alternative rock now plays as much of a popular influence on the scene as do the styles traditional draws of classical and jazz music. Among other greats, Porcupine Tree, The Mars Volta and Radiohead are some of the best known groups keeping progressive rock up to date and with the times. John Wesley, who is known as a live session guitarist and singer for Porcupine Tree over the years, aligns himself with this forward thinking trend in progressive rock. Wesley has been running a successful solo career for over 20 years, and in that period he released seven studio albums. His eighth studio full-length is titled ‘A Way You’ll Never Be,’ and is scheduled for the October 7 release via Inside Out Music. Although Wesley’s arrangements occasionally tip the hat towards the genre’s original legends, ‘A Way You’ll Never Be’ is a solid fusion of prog and alt rock. The two halves are given equal credence and proportion in the style, and though Wesley and the band, which features Ian Medhurst on guitars, Mark Prator on drums, and legendary Sean Malone on bass, left room for further improvement on this album, it’s rare to hear such a smooth combination of the old and the new.

Although progressive rock is the heart and soul of ‘A Way You’ll Never Be,’ I was surprised to hear such a heavy sound at play here. Yes, heavy like the celebration of everything opposite of the traditional prog spirit. Although the two schools are in direct conflict on paper, John Wesley makes the two work together. Although a modern rock sounds pervades the songwriting, much of the strictly heavy rock vibe on ‘A Way You’ll Never Be’ is confined to the guitar tones, which retain a crisp clarity in the production in spite of the fuzzy textures. Although progressive rock is certainly no stranger to loud guitars, the riff-oriented nature of John Wesley’s music is incredibly overt. Although the song structures ultimately favour 1sort of complexity and long form structures that so often appear in progressive music, many of these riffs are the sort of thing you might hear on a modern radio rock single. This balance between accessible and proggy elements largely defines what the frontman and co. have done on ‘A Way You’ll Never Be.’

TRACKLIST

01. By The Light Of A Sun
02. A Way You'll Never Be
03. To Outrun The Light
04. The Revolutionist
05. Nada
06. The Silence In Coffee
07. Unsafe Space
08. Sun.A.Rose
09. Epic
10. Pointless Endeavors