Let’s start with getting my slight ADHD pedantry out of the way. I find it frustrating that they have the capital letter at the end of the band’s name, rather at the start. But as a musical affectation it is, to my knowledge, unique and that makes it memorable so they are forgiven. Then there is the actual album title. In my head I have a mental struggle to not write either ‘Alchemy Of Dreams’ or ‘Alchemy Of A Dream’. But the unconventional makes it stand out more; whether I like it or not.
Having a couple of grammatical quirks and a wonderful CD sleeve image doesn’t always mean that the music will be any good. And that is where I can move into safer, less ADHD, territory and elaborate as I make my case that this is more than just good. Having heard the entire album played live at this year’s Peacock Freakshow 2 event, I’d already had a taster of what to expect but memories can fade as the songs are replaced by others that I can listen to on repeat on my CD player, so I was more than happy to approach this release from a more focused perspective.
Tim O’Connor, the lead vocalist and first amongst the equals, wears many hats with solo and other band projects, so he manages to follow different sounds without risking the dilution of any of his themes, which, with this particular hat cowfisH are the rockier side of prog.
Fire Fly is the opening track and it has a cynical, almost black magic, sound and feel. I could imagine early Tull singing this. Plenty of audio theatrics and drama to keep this chugging along at an energetic pace. Next is Gospel. The lunatic laughter at the start sets the tone for this song. It makes me think that if John Lydon had moved into prog this is the sort of song he would have sung. Fun lyrics that, even after a few listens, still make me smile. As they say in Yorkshire, daft apeths and bless them for it.
If there is any justice in the world 21st Century Slave should be a regular play on all the various Prog Rock radio stations. It might not be in the ‘long’ song category of many of the Yes or ELP tunes but it is still a stick of rock with ‘Prog’ written all the way through it. Back to my pedant side and the title track, Alchemy of Dream. As the song is sung so fast, listening to the lyrics is difficult so I can’t work out why they have diverted from common English, but once again I can fly above that and enjoy the song. A playful song that shows that they are having fun and could easily have been a shorter track from one of Genesis’ earlier albums.
Zircon Baby, is a steady rock track, that makes me think of Iggy Pop meets Alice Cooper at a Goth convention. And I’d love to see Tim dressed like that! With a more rock feel that takes it back to safer Prog ground, Roots of Plunder moves along at a steady sneering pace. One that deserves to be played loud and has the opportunity for a lot of audience participation at concerts, once it becomes well known by the fans.
Next up we have Animal which starts of with delicate guitar playing but don’t let that fool you into a false sense of security the lyrics do not allow for complacency, and the music still prods so that you can’t become too comfortable. Then we have Friend or Foe, possibly my favourite song on the album. It sounds a bit like an angry sea shanty, if old sea dogs played electric guitars.
Following, No One is pure prog at its finest. The band displaying their induvial talents to deliver a superb track, with Tim’s keyboards making me think of Tony Banks if he played in The Who. The penultimate track, I am on familiar territory as I have heard England be Damned, performed live on a couple of previous occasions. I must confess that, although I really like the album version and it has the benefit of backing vocals by Erin Bennet, of EBB fame, it fails to capture the cynical raw energy of the live version. But, dear reader, you can take that as an excuse to both buy the CD and see them live, so that you can compare the two. Things I’d encourage you to do, on both counts.
Finally, the album ends with Entropy’s Child. Perhaps the rockiest song of the collection and once again Tim creates a great narrative, dripping in audio theatrics. I am sure a musicologist, or perhaps a psychiatrist, could spend months analysing the lyrics, but I prefer to enjoy the song.
As an overview, are there echoes of other prog bands? Yes, but being likened to Tull or Genesis is no bad thing. But despite that they still manage to take many disparate, or not so disparate, sources and create something unique and infinitely listenable.
TRACK LISTING
01. Fire Fly (2:48)
02. Gospel (4:09)
03. 21st Century Slave (4:50)
04. Alchemy of Dream (4:52)
05. Zircon Baby (3:18)
06. Roots of Plunder (4:45)
07. Animal (4:19)
08. Friend or Foe (3:39)
09. No One (3:34)
10. England Be Damned (4:32)
11. Entropy’s Child (4:02)
Total Time – 44:51
MUSICIANS
Tim O’Connor – Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals
Martin Wharton – Guitar, Vocals
Rick Standley – Bass
Roy Turnham – Drum Set, Vocals
~ With:
Erin Bennett – Angelic Voice
ADDITIONAL INFO
Record Label: Independent
Country of Origin: UK
Date of Release: 31st October 2026
