Label: Independent
The Inner Road is the creation of
Steve Gresswell and Phil Braithwaite, two former members of the band Coalition
who joined forces to fulfill their own musical needs. On March 1, 2019, they
released their fourth album The Majestic Garden. The album, along with other works of theirs, falls
into the genre of progressive rock: originally a movement in the ’70's to bring
new elements of sophistication to rock music. The genre gains inspiration from
psychedelic music from the ’60s, often containing uncommon song structures,
interludes, and heightened dynamics. The Majestic Garden is a wonderful example of prog that portrays its
unique characteristics while also contributing to the genre with the addition
of a fantastical layer to their music.
A key
characteristic of The Majestic Garden that sets it apart from other prog music is
the usage of musical elements to suggest a fantastical setting in each song.
While other prog bands like Pink Floyd and Genesis sway their audience with
compelling melodies and lyrics, The Inner Road sways theirs with the atmosphere
they create. The Majestic Garden transports you to a magical forest populated with
giants, trolls, and faeries, you’ll feel like you’re in the middle of a high
fantasy story. This is likely due to the repetition of minor scales ascending
to the fifth interval and then descending, mostly seen during “Call of the
Spirit” and “Water Well.” Minor scales are infamous for providing a spooky and
ominous atmosphere. When they’re used as the melody of multiple songs, it causes
the album to feel nothing short of supernatural. The repetition of the scale
going up and down also generates a mood of suspense; the listeners hear this
melody and expect it to change like usual, but it remains constant for a long
portion of the song. The anticipation of a melody change sparks suspense into
their listeners, a characteristic also extremely prominent in high fantasy.
To add, a
large contributing factor to the atmosphere of this album is the irregular
rhythm in each song. For example, the rhythm section of the title track “The
Majestic Garden” begins by playing four monotonous quarter notes, assisting in
the creation of an upbeat melody and an inspirational ambiance. However, in the
second track “Call of the Spirit,” the melody is much darker and ominous. This
is reinforced by the rhythm section, whose dynamics are heightened at the
beginning of the song when they play two strong quarter notes at the end of
each measure. The rhythm of each song differs, either becoming more complex
like in “Lost Land” or becoming more simplistic such as in “Mother Earth.” The
continuous transformation from the rhythm section assists in the feeling of
multiple events with different levels of significance occurring one after the
other as if the album were telling a story.
If you
want to be immersed in a world similar to that of Lord of the Rings or Dungeons
and Dragons, The Majestic Garden by The Inner Road is the album for you. With the
assistance of musical elements such as the use of minor scales and the
irregularity of the rhythm in each song, The
Majestic Garden contributes
to prog by adding a layer of fantasy that had been rarely seen before in the
genre.
Key
tracks Include: "Call of The Spirit" "The Majestic Garden"
"Mother Earth" “Fire of Life”
Ana McLaughlin-Contributor
October 3, 2019
Tracks:
1. The Majestic Garden
2. Call of the Spirit
3. Wind from the Reeds
4. Fire of Life
5. Lost Land
6. Changing Sea
7. Water Well
8. Mother Earth
9. Circle of Shadows
Tracks:
1. The Majestic Garden
2. Call of the Spirit
3. Wind from the Reeds
4. Fire of Life
5. Lost Land
6. Changing Sea
7. Water Well
8. Mother Earth
9. Circle of Shadows