Opening the album with Jeremy Iron’s distinctive voice on “Prelude” is nothing short of a masterstroke. His haunting reading sets the scene and draws you like a ship to a siren into the album. The title track follows and launches you on a spectacular journey that veers from the sublime to the grandiose, the subtle to dramatic, in an ever shifting, seamless voyage of often spectacular music.
The production throughout is nothing short of excellent. Kim’s soothing vocals blend smoothly with those of Rob creating an irresistible counterbalance in the process. Adam Hodgson’s driving power chords and dramatic breaks add the drama. Meanwhile Paul Moorghen’s bass intrigues and entices locking in firmly with the impressive drums of Al Melville.
This is a band brimming with ideas and a collective creativity, and a desire to deliver music of the highest quality. That belief radiates from every well conceived note. There is simply no space for anything but the best on Wintercoast. There are so many ideas flowing from them. Touchstone describe their sound as being, ‘like prog but with a real bite’, and that is precisely what they deliver here by the shovel load.
The combination of Kim and Rob is something that was clearly meant to be with both complimenting each other perfectly. The huge opening that is the title track comes complete with Adam’s soaring guitar break, perfect harmonizing, and faultless production. It is a spectacular entry in every conceivable sense of the word.
“Strange Days” opens out into driving power chords and trademark harmonies. Shades of light and dark, power and subtlety melt together with seamless ease. “Voices” has a memorable keyboard intro from Rob Cottingham before the soothing voice of Kim Seviour adds that Touchstone counterbalance.
As if to underline all that has gone before, “Joker In The Pack” sweeps its way through a whole host of textures whilst magically and effortlessly switching between them.
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