Pure Reason Revolution’s debut album from 2006, The Dark Third, is one of the best debut albums I can think of in modern progressive rock. The band is obviously influenced by Pink Floyd, as you will notice from the guitar sound and atmosphere of the opening instrumental track, Aeropause. However what sets this band apart is the vocal harmonies, evendenced in next two tracks in this post. The band mentions Brian Wilson as an influence, a great role model to have if you are into harmonies. Chloe Alper, the bass and keyboard player and singer, does wonders singing some of the lead parts and most of the harmonies. The songs, with long instrumental parts, are very melodic. Lots of atmospheric electric guitar solos and accompanying synths.
The band’s name takes after Immanuel Kant’s monumental work The Critique of Pure Reason from 1781. The Dark Third is a term describing the period of time people spend sleeping, and many of the lyrics do have a dreamy feel to them. In 2007 the band opened for Porcupine Tree’s European leg of the Fear of Blank Planet tour. After a few more albums that did not rise to the same level as the debut album, the band called it quits in 2011.
I picked the first three songs from the album, which in the best tradition of progressive rock blend into each other to form a longer composition. I recommend playing them in sequence in one sitting.
Goshen’s Remains
cooling me so bright, the light is stunning over the motions again
threw away delight in spite of nothing over we’re older again
she digs her heals over there
fool’s serene survive soon she’ll rationalize
fooling me so slight, his smiles cunning over-emotion again
newer ways & insights in light of nothing, over they’re older again
he leaves my needs over there
gleaming seas arise, soon she’ll rationalize
over & over, the show flies discover! through warm fields
over & over the snow lies uncovered through the storm fields
please lead us through the remains
moving me so bright, his smiles stunning, over the notions again
fewer days in fright the ladies gunning, overline goshen remains
he preaches fear over there
gleaming seas arise, soon she’ll rationalize
over & over, the show flies discover! wander through the warm fields
over & over the snow lies uncovered throughout the storm fields
they laze in dawn-light fire,
the morning dew rolls over the planet,
clear words child! far away plans
the skies sublime lunation towards the setting sun,
with eyes of painted dilation towards the fragile sun,
their sight in firm fixation towards the setting sun,
we’ve seen the ruined foundatins towards he fragile sun
Apprentice Of The Universe
lime & limpid dream colonise, waste the silent orders waste the silence.
lime she screens the green colour light taste alliance order, taste alliance
and give me something to dream about, i’m tiring
i’m cold & i want to go to sleep
through time she leads the tunic & rhymes, blinding-finding order, blinding finding
time she clears & found colours glide, lives the silent waters, seams & ground lines
and give me something to dream about, i’m tiring
i’m cold & i want to go to sleep
she told me i had too much to dream last night
lime & limpid dream colonise
Categories: Song