Multi-instrumentalist Suzi James returns with her vibrant third album under the Fearful Symmetry project name. I’ve Started, So I’ll Finish… and is yet another enjoyable and exquisitely crafted album mixing progressive rock, jazz fusion, art rock and even contemporary pop that refreshingly straddles many genres to create a diversity of musicality and style.
Fearful Symmetry started as a studio-based project in 2018 and released their debut album, Louder Than Words a year later, with The Difficult Second following in 2022. I’ve Started, So I’ll Finish… not only showcases the project’s familiar signature sound and feel but also strives to fuse many different styles and influences together into some fresh, bright and quite unique.
As before, Suzi James provides most of the instrumentation. Her impressive guitar skills once again dazzle, but her bass, keyboards, flute, violin and mandolin playing also provide the depth and variety to the instrumental soundscapes that shape all the shifting character of all the individual songs. Yael Shotts’s pleasing and clear vocals provide a lyrical and melodic counterpoint to the instrumental intricacies, whilst Sharon Petrover adds some wonderfully expressive and inventive drumming throughout.
One By One starts the album brightly, with a vibrant mix of prog rock and jazz fusion and an upbeat effervescence in the music and breezy vocals. There are some lovely jazzy guitar soloing and keyboard runs midway too, and a nice balance between virtuosic complexity and melodic accessibility. Hard as Diamonds has a more serious tone but still is blessed by some lovely keyboard and guitar interplay over a solid, swaying rhythm. The instrumental The Demented Third (originally pencilled in as the album title!) is a darker musical journey that twists and turns menacingly, with touches of heavy rock riffing and busy drumming, but has some lighter flute-led moments to provide a nice contrast.
On The Street Today is a simpler, contemporary rock song, with the lyrics focusing on the truth and lies we encounter in our social media-driven world. Yet the track has a lightness and engaging personality, thanks to Yael’s deft vocals. Someone also flows smoothly, but whilst there is pleasant simplicity driven by the soft vocals, there is some deceptively complex interplay between guitar and the drums at times, which keep the song energized. However, The Dance of the Ghillie Dhu is a welcome change of style, with a touch of folk-prog in this tale of a Scottish tree sprite. Suzi’s varied guitar playing is a joy to hear, as is her Celtic folk-style violin over Sharon’s trad-folk percussion and Yael’s lyrical storytelling.
There Are No Words is a short instrumental that showcases the full range of Suzi’s guitar and keyboard playing, with an underlying jazz fusion feel. Guest musician Mark Cook adds a melodic Warr multi-string touch guitar solo for good measure. Everything and Nothing is a more thoughtful look at the divisive nature of modern politics, made more powerful by the clear and soft vocals and more subdued musical style. The introductory piano is touching, and Suzi adds a brief, but well-judged guitar solo later. Another instrumental Theme For An Imaginary Cop Show, is an enjoyable and light-hearted burst of jazz funk with a strutting rhythm, late night keyboards, sassy guitar and an infectious nature. It could easily have graced a 70’s US crime show on our TV screens back in the day.
Tears of the Gods is 4-part, 10-minute epic that ends the album. Yael’s vocals tell a tragic tale of the Shinto gods of creation, Izanagi and Izanami, and the link between life and death and cycles of existence. The music conjures up the feel of the ancient Japanese very effectively, with darker, brooding passages of prog rock and rich, vibrant flights of guitar, synths and bass (and a feel of Rush at times too). Suzi’s guitar is allowed to soar far and wide towards the end, and it’s a delightfully proggy end to proceedings.
I’ve Started, So I’ll Finish… is a delightful and refreshingly diverse album of prog rock, jazz fusion and a whole basket of other styles and influences, with Suzi James delighting the listener with her virtuosic guitar, bass and keyboards, supported by Yael Shotts charming, uncluttered vocals and Sharon Petrover’s dynamic drums. Each song has its unique character, but Fearful Symmetry’s familiar musicality runs through the many twists and turns on the album. Accessible, and yet deceptively complex too – it’s an uplifting album worthy of exploring further.
TRACK LISTING
01. One By One (6:02)
02. Hard As Diamonds (5:20)
03. The Demented Third (4:11)
04. On The Street Today (4:14)
05. Someone (4:54)
06. The Dance Of The Ghillie Dhu (5:40)
07. There Are No Words (4:14)
08. Everything And Nothing (4:37)
09. Theme For An Imaginary Cop Show (3:42)
10. The Tears Of The Gods (10:10)
Total Time – 53:04
MUSICIANS
Suzi James – Guitar, Bass, Mandolin, Keyboards, Violin, Flute
Yael Shotts – Vocals, Arrangements
Sharon Petrover – Drums, Percussion, Arrangements
~ With:
Mark Cook – Warr Guitar solo (7)
Record Label: Progrock.com’s Essentials
Country of Origin: UK
Released: 5th September 2025 (CD)
LINKS
Fearful Symmetry – Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | YouTube | Instagram
