Review Allen Edelist [USA]

From Shadow To Shadow did come many new treats. I was anxiously awaiting this new collection as it has been almost a year since the LA Palers' Festival had taken over the BB King's stage.

While my first reaction to many of the cuts charged and bruised my sensibilities, I thought I should be fair to every effort. I know I probably shocked a few sensibilities as a contributor, so I took action to immediately listen to the most accessible over and over and then listen to the others I felt needed more time and more listenings with a
fresh mind.

Many of the interpretations turned out to be what one would expect. But many others blew me away immediately, and others then took more time to understand.

After several listenings, I came to the conclusion that all carried the same inventiveness, insight, and a quality understanding of the band, Procol Harum, Brooker, Fisher, Trower, and Reid, and that none are better than the next. Even after some of the interpretations caught my fancy more quickly than others, every song carries some unique quality that makes me think, "Wow, I wish I had thought of that!"

Individually, the tracks that have me listening over and over include Jeremy Gilien's Procolized and baroque Cold Harbour Lane, which I can hear Matthew singing as part of the A Salty Dog album. And a few nice Baroque touches within Your Own Choice. Conquistador is an absolute standout and may be the most perfect interpretation of a Procol Harum tune I have heard.

An almost Samson-like The Final Thrust, the imaginative clicking torture of Typewriter Torment, the AM radio touch of Long Gone Geek, the continuation of the use of accordion on SS Blues (accordion played by Sir Roland in LA), and the joyous bluegrass So Far Behind (also because I recall watching Geoff Whitehorn's complete of enjoyment of it while played live in LA).

Pilgrim's Progress is absolutely joyous: thank you, Mr Maits. The Pet Shop Boys/Erasure Fellow Travellers is very fun. A Salty Dog is too delicious to even comment about as is the extremely – and appropriately so – disturbing Something Following Me.

I could go on about every track, and go on forever about the standout musicianship and imagination herein; this collection certainly adds an amazing new level of credibility to the culture that has been created and maintained by 'Beyond the Pale'.

More so than that, it continues to validate the point that when fans can exhibit their love of a moment in time that progresses through music that stirs and entertains living souls, what more can anyone gain than a daily satisfaction of Something (very) Magic? The Shadows dance, and the 'supermarket looks just fine'!

Allen 'One-Eye' Edelist, Los Angeles, USA; 31 May 2004

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