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Sure, there’s currency in knowing about band leader Justin Greaves’ past in the likes of Electric Wizard or Iron Monkey, as well as the musical history of singer Joe Volk (formerly of Bristolian riffmonsters Gonga) or the sweet tinklings of pianist Daisy Chapman’s solo work, and it’s not like CBP are exactly an unknown quantity to the more adventurous listener. But I, Vigilante deserves to be embraced, not for its pedigree or associations with other bands and musicians but for its glorious richness.
On I, Vigilante, CBP’s greatest talent is making a song feel both sky-crackingly epic and intimate at the same time. Take We Forgotten Who We Are, a thundering storm which lasts 11 minutes and powers through sections of head-nodding chug guitars to a sunrise of happy melody and back: just when the noise is getting too much they rein it back with, of all things, a squealing guitar solo before dropping into the bittersweet Fantastic Justice. Taken as one movement across almost 20 minutes it’s a staggering display of songwriting, with twists and turns that make the band sound like a mini orchestra – horns, strings, crashes and swoons all abound, with Greaves the dark conductor in the middle. It’s stirring stuff.
The spoken-word section at the beginning of Bastogne Blues, from a war veteran remembering killing a German soldier during the siege of Bastogne and its effects on him over the last 60 years – "He was like a little angel, but I still had to shoot him" – is a perfectly evocative opening to a genuinely troubled song. CBP’s command of bleakness is at its strongest here; you could call it cinematic but that doesn’t really come close to describing this song’s emotional resonance. And just when I, Vigilante threatens to fold in on itself in a black hole of misery, a faithfully screaming version of Journey’s Of a Lifetime shows they have a sense of humour, and some seriously sweet guitar tones.
Does it make sense? Not really, unless you remove the context of the album and consider CBP to be an amorphous group without one particular identity just doing what makes them tick. Which, brilliantly, is what they are.
--Ben PatashnikFind more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
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If you're reading this you'll already have an interest in buying this. I'm no rock journo but I'd like to make a few points about this wonderful album which is now tied as my album of the year alongside Anathema's 'We're Here Because We're Here'....
1. This is an album of epic scope and ambition - although many of the songs are lengthy they will captivate within a couple of listens.
2. This is a musical journey, and is superb at capturing many moods and atmopheres - it's bombastic, it's melancholic, it's euphoric, it's fargile, it's thunderous, it's poignant...it's thoughful and melodic.
3. In addition to the usual 'rock ' instrumentation it's features the additional joy of Daisy Chapman's beautiful piano and voice (on Of A Lifetime) and Charlotte Nicholls's haunting cello...tastefully placed within the flow of most of the songs.
4. CPB again pay close attention to the detail and craft of the SONG...you'll find no guitar wankery/shredding or uneccesary keyboard heroics..NOT A NOTE IS WASTED. The music is layered beautifully.
5. The main instrumental melody in Bastogne Blues featuring viola, cello and piano is so gorgeous it's worth the admission price alone.
6. This is approx 45 mins of music to become completely absorbed in...often cinematic in it's breadth
I urge you to buy this album ...CBP are most usually pigeonholed as post/progressive rock...to my ears they sound nowt like the post rock bands you'll regard as genre heavyweights and have nothing in common with the sometimes overblown excess of bands like Yes or Dream Theater (no offence meant)but could easily transfix fans of Pink Floyd or mid period Porcupine Tree or Anathema. Also catch a show when you get the chance...the band expands to 8 musicians in it's live form and create a wonderful sound and spectacle.
Press 'add to basket' now...you won't regret it
A somewhat strange album but I like it a lot!
They recommended them for anyone into bands like Pink Floyd, Porcupine Tree and Anathema. As I like all these bands, I thought I would take the plunge.
Glad I did. Nice mixture of styles / songs with varied instrumentation
Standout for me is definately Bastogne Blues. Just the way it starts with the war veteran talking about being haunted by the memory of killing a young German soldier in WWII , then the meaningful lyrics building up to the main instrumental melody . Very moving
However, the other three main tracks are excellent , with a couple of AOR / more poppy songs to finish off.
Recommended
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