Detailed Reviews [Zeelley Moon - 2023 - "The Author and the Dreamer"]

Prolusion. UK band Zeelley Moon is the creative vehicle of composer and musician Pat Molesworth, and under the Zeelley Moon moniker he has created and released two studio albums so far. "The Author and the Dreamer" is the most recent of these, and was self-released in the fall of 2023.

Analysis. It is a distinctly compelling and accessible variety of progressive rock we get with this band. The main focus revolves around compositions that are gentle and careful in approach and execution, where it is the subtle nuances rather than the more dramatic contrasts or instrument virtuosity that is highlighted. In terms of direct comparisons on a general basis I'm not quite sure what name I should drop, but if you can imagine Genesis performing their classic material in the manner of Camel you might get a bit of an idea about what type of landscapes we are dealing with here. The piano is the most vital instrument throughout, as a steady provider of gentle details and flowing motions, and I wouldn't be all that surprised if most of these songs started out as compositions developed with the piano and then becoming more fleshed out as they developed. And while the tangents may not always have a dominating spot in the arrangements it is an ever present detail. The songs here do come in a few different flavors. A song like 'Poison in My Tea' focus more on pop music sensibilities for instance, and have an opening and concluding part that actually gives me associations to an artist like Elton John. The concluding song 'So Many Words' have a bit of a darker touch to its moods and atmospheres, and along with a slight influx of blues there's a little bit of a Floydian vibe going on here. For most of the other songs my earlier description of a softer and more compelling blend of Genesis and Camel combined is closer to what we get, with floating and flowing keyboard textures and guitar solo overlays and runs being the order of the day. With 'English Pride' being a bit of a slight offset, as that is a song that in it's more lively passages in particular comes with a more distinct and purebred Genesis sound and attitude. The one slight drawback with this album are the lead vocals however. Molesworth is a passable singer at best, and when two of the songs have been made reliant on the vocals to carry the tune, so to speak, they do fall a little bit flat for me. Then again I am aware of being more sensitive than most when it comes to vocals, so if this is a detail that will be detrimental to others is a question of subjective taste and perception. And as this is the case for two songs only, it is a minor issue anyhow, but still a small matter that warrants mentioning. The earlier mentioned concluding song 'So Many Words' is a case of the opposite, where the additional vocals of Meg Prickett helps elevate this song up a notch, while the aforementioned 'Poison in My Tea' for me at least is the one song that is the best fit for Molesworth's vocal style and range as far as my own perception is concerned.

Conclusion. "The Author and the Dreamer" strikes me as an album that is filled with a distinct retro-oriented charm in many ways, exploring a more accessible variety of the kind of progressive rock that was popular and influential back in the 1970's. I'd hazard a guess that those who tend to enjoy the more accessible side of 70s Genesis and the more atmospheric laden excursions of Camel from the same time period will be something of a key audience for this album, and then in particular those in that audience that appreciate the good, old piano being a central instrument in landscapes of this variety.

Progmessor: December 2023
The Rating Room