Sometimes the best things come in small packages, and that is the case with the new EP, Fram, from The Round Window. Despite only being three songs long and 23 minutes in duration, the Essex melodic prog rock band have created a wonderfully atmospheric and musically thoughtful release, lyrically linked thematically to the winter season.
The Round Window are now a familial trio of Rich Lock on vocals, along with sons, Thomas on keyboards and Jack on drums – supported by a wealth of talented guest musicians, including Robin Armstrong (Cosmograf), Gareth Cole (The Bardic Depths), Per Malmberg (Salva) and Alistair Martin (Cosmograf, live). Together, they have created a moving and contemplative, little gem of a release where their brand of ‘widescreen’ melodic and progressive rock mixes with classical, ambient and acoustic influences, along with a strong lyrical, story-telling element.
I was first aware of the band when they released their second album, Everywhere & Nowhere, although their 2022 titular debut release has subsequently impressed. This EP is a very worthy addition to their discography, and is recommended for those who appreciate the contemporary, narrative-driven, progressive rock of the likes of Kaprekar’s Constant, The Bardic Depths, Abel Ganz and even Big Big Train, amongst others. Once again, it has been expertly produced by Robin Armstrong to create a sonic sparkle to the songs.
The EP begins, in epic style, with The Silence. It starts with atmospheric sounds, strings and a distant toll of a bell before delicate, simple piano notes over lush keyboard chords add a poignancy to the music. Bass and drums add a gentle, restrained tempo before Rich Lock’s clear and distinctive vocals are introduced.
We are transported back to the joyful relief of the Christmas 1914 ceasefire on the Western Front, as a young soldier writes to his father and mother in optimistic terms.
The peace is deafening
The absence of the lightning
Bearing death upon the wind
The dark clouds have parted
The barriers are fallen
We arise as human beings
To stand on common ground”
He asks his mother to set a place at the dining table, with the prospect of a return home in the near future, and all the festive family experiences he fondly remembers.
Burning candles, crystal skies
Cries of laughter, songs of joy
Frozen breath, raise glasses high”
The music flows easily and some lovely, uplifting guitar soloing from Per Malmberg enhances the hopeful ambience, with additional supportive guitar work from Christopher Wilkinson. Yet even as the soldier reflects on the silence and darkness of the moment, there is a subtle change in the musical tone, with a portentous sound of distant thunder and a darker feel within the plaintive strings and whispered vocals. It signals the arrival of a raven, who seems to bring a foreboding message that he will not survive the war.
A guitar-led increase in the musical dynamics is followed by Rich’s yearning and increasingly sombre vocals, as the soldier decides to write to his sister more truthfully about the over-optimistic letters that he has previously sent his parents.
Where I could not see the light
My hope interred inside this sepulchre
The only thing for me to dream about”
The music rises solemnly with soaring guitar and chiming piano as we feel the sadness and burden this final letter has presented to his sister, and the festive bells he hears toll ominously. Yet, the song ends on a rather lighter note as the sounds of piano and voices from past times echo. Is this the end of the story, we wonder? All in all, it’s an impressive epic with a deeply emotional heart.
The title track, Fram, begins slowly with some lyrical and haunting guitar from Robin Armstrong, before it grows into a mid-tempo trot, with Jack Lock’s propelling drum patterns and Alistair Martin’s bass supporting Rich’s melodious vocals and the catchy chorus of “Where do we go now?” Thomas Lock’s keyboards support the song unselfishly, allowing the guitar to take flight throughout.
The song takes as its inspiration the story of Fridtjof Nansen, a Norwegian polymath and explorer who sailed away in a specially designed ship called ‘Fram’ in an impressive, although unsuccessful expedition to reach the North Pole in 1894. Although honoured as a national hero on his return, it was the subsequent expedition to reach the South Pole by Roald Amundsen in 1911 in the same ship which proved successful and more historically significant.
The lyrics relate to Nansen’s reflection on his life as he considers the acclaim that he received for what was ultimately a failure, his mixed feelings on the success of others, and the process of settings goals in his life, which may or may not be achieved. The song is also allegorical and considers the journeys we might all make over time, and the differing outcomes that may result.
To the end of the world
The fates weave their fortunes
And toy with men’s desires”
The song, along with the EP’s artwork (by Isis Mawdsley-Diaz), conjure up the image of cold, icy travels into the unknown. It has both grandeur and accessibility and is another very enjoyable listen.
Clear blue sky
Racing through the darkest night
We go now
Sailing alone
Into the blue”
The EP ends satisfyingly with the meditative Hourglass. Starting serenely with piano and soothing bass, Rich’s vocals frame the ballad as a reflection of the year that has past and the passing of time, by candlelight.
The candle flickers
We’ve come to the end
Of another year
Survived”
The ever-reliable Gareth Cole gradually adds some appealing guitar lines over the leisurely drum and bass rhythm, and delivers not one, but two, beautiful solos. It has a lovely pastoral prog feel at times too. There are shifts in intensity and keyboard flurries here and there later on and builds up a head of steam as Rich delivers some powerful, uplifting and hopeful words to start the next year.
With the hourglass we play out all our schemes
Join with me now
Here in the now
Live in the now
Turn it over
Go again”
The song ends with a touching piano coda by Thomas, which rounds off the song, and the whole EP, very well. It’s a perfect song to sit back with a single malt whisky in hand on New Year’s Eve to see out the old and welcome in the new.
Fram is not an EP of disparate songs in search of an album, but a well-constructed, complete and satisfying musical statement, which over three diverse songs really showcases what The Round Window do so well. Their atmospheric and cinematic storytelling, with its articulate lyrics, along with a musical template grounded in progressive rock (but not constrained by it) deserves a much wider audience. A truly captivating musical box of delights this winter that certainly whets the appetite for even more music from this talented band in the future.
TRACK LISTING
01. The Silence (11:16)
02. Fram (6:07)
03. Hourglass (5:56)
Total Time – 23:19
MUSICIANS
Rich Lock – Vocals
Thomas Lock – Keyboards, Vocals
Jack Lock – Drums, Vocals
~ With:
Robin Armstrong – Guitars (2), Bass (1)
Gareth Cole – Guitars (3), Backing Vocals (2)
Per Malmberg – Guitars (1)
Alistair Martin – Bass (2 & 3)
Christopher Wilkinson – Additional Guitar (1)
ADDITIONAL INFO
Record Label: Independent
Country of Origin: U.K.
Date of Release: 29th November 2024
LINKS
The Round Window – Facebook | Bandcamp | YouTube