Out now is progressive alternative rock band Pure Reason Revolution conceptual sixth studio album, Coming Up To Consciousness, available via InsideOutMusic. It comes ahead of a headline UK tour dates to take place this December, that is itself preceded by a special video for the new album’s closing song ‘As We Disappear’.
Filmed live at Circle Studios in Berlin, Jon Courtney performed what was a stripped down version of ‘As We Disappear’.
“Thrilled to be out & doing some shows,” Courtney remarked. “You spend so much time in the studio crafting the record, then it launches & social media response comes in, but what’s so incredibly special is seeing people’s faces light up when their favourite track comes from the stage; seeing people get lost in a moment; meeting you sweaty after the show & hearing what the records mean to you. This is true connection. Really hope you enjoy this little rendition of ‘As We Disappear’”
You can check the video out here at RAMzine.
Betrayal, deception, fear, grief, mortality, and questions of sanity, are among the heady and primordial themes will be found on the album, with guitarist and keyboard player Jon Courtney explaining its development as follows: “Spawned from the bereavement after my dog was put down, a numb and dry creative spell ensued, but after a meeting with my writer friend Craig Walker (Archive, Power Of Dreams) and sharing how the last months had been, he urged me to get this experience down in lyrics and music. Suddenly the album flew out of me/us! In terms of recording process, this album was probably the most enjoyable to make, with the various collaborations firing creativity.”
Coming Up To Consciousness is the third of the band’s post-hiatus renaissance records that began with 2020’s Eupnea and continued in 2022’s Above Cirrus. Like those two predecessors, the new record is intensely personal. Its eight tracks are all between four and seven minutes long – concise by Pure Reason Revolution’s standards – and they grapple with darkness of various kinds.
Courtney, who lives in Berlin, shared writing duties on several tracks with US-based Greg Jong. The pair formed Pure Reason Revolution together earlier this millennium at the University of Westminster, releasing breakout hit single ‘The Bright Ambassadors Of Morning’ as their third year project. They reconnected during the creation of Eupnea and have continued the partnership since then both in the studio and on stage. Legendary session musician Guy Pratt, who has worked with Pink Floyd among myriad iconic acts, provided bass guitar on seven of the eight tracks, resulting in more ambitious bass lines than any of Pure Reason Revolution‘s previous records. Meanwhile, Ravi Kesavaram, of My Vitriol, returns to the drums on this record after touring with the band in 2022.
Another newcomer on this record is vocalist Annicke Shireen, known for her work with Shireen and Heilung, as well as her solo project. Shireen stepped in after original PRR member and fan favourite Chloe Alper was unavailable for recent live shows. With Alper’s schedule remaining packed for the foreseeable future, she has been unable to rejoin the lineup. She and Courtney agreed it made more sense for Shireen to sing on the record if she was going to continue appearing in shows. Both Courtney and Jong have nothing but enthusiasm for working with her.
“They’re impossible shoes to fill in a lot of ways,” Greg Jong said. “But we were just blown away with how good she is. We were really excited by the fact that vocally she does have a similar tone to Chloe, and yet she definitely holds her own.”
The band was equally thrilled to work with multiple members of iconic prog band The Pineapple Thief; the record was mixed by Bruce Soord, mastered by Steve Kitch, and sees Jon Sykes playing bass on one track. Coming Up To Consciousness is also the third PRR album to feature cover art by Jill Tegan Doherty, who Courtney originally met in Berlin on a German language course.
Previously the band issued ‘Betrayal’, ‘Useless Animal’ and ‘Dig Till You Die’ that are still available digitally with videos for each present here at RAMzine.
Courtney commented on ‘Useless Animal’ that “The song’s about how we don’t realise something’s worth until it’s gone. “Taking my dog to be put down and the emotional fallout, the unexpected impact. Grief is the price we pay for love. Written as a result of purposefully trying to avoid my usual repertoire of chords. This was the first track Guy Pratt played bass on, he did a wonderful job & his input spurred on further creativity.”
The album is available as a limited CD+DVD digipak (featuring 5.1 Surround sound and high resolution stereo mixes), standard CD jewel case, as well as a gatefold Revinyl LP (Recycled vinyl), and digitally in both stereo and Dolby Atmos. It can be ordered here.
Pure Reason Revolution will perform in Europe alongside Lesoir in September and October, starting at the Be Prog! My Friend Festival in Barcelona. This will be followed by their December UK tour, and thereafter the band will also make their first appearance on Cruise To The Edge in 2025, alongside Steve Hackett, Riverside, Haken, Big Big Train, Robert Fripp and many more.
PURE REASON REVOLUTION UK TOUR
3rd December – The 1865, Southampton
4th December – Thekla, Bristol
5th December – Club Academy, Manchester
6th December – O2 Academy 2, Birmingham
8th December – Islington Assembly Hall, London
Tickets on sale here.
