The great irony of neo-prog is that much of it sounds tired – light on both the new and the progressive. Lifesigns neatly sidestep this issue by channelling elements of AOR and soft rock into an album inspired variously by reflections on culture, creativity and, of course, the rise and fall of British dirigible manufacturing.

The latter manifests itself on title track Cardington, a potted history of the UK aviation facility, which finds an Icarus-like metaphor in the British government’s attempts to construct the world’s most advanced airship, the R101 - a project that ultimately resulted in tragedy and the deaths of 48 people after it crashed on its maiden voyage. It’s a story of colossal scope, ably translated into an eleven minute journey that captures the excitement and ambition of the age, the vast spaciousness of the heavens and, in its darker moments, the tragic hubris of this Titanic-esque tale.

It’s an album stuffed with talent. Bainbridge in particular crops up a lot on this record’s finest moments, so it’s welcome news that he’s set to tour with the band. Elsewhere, ex-Cardiacs/Wildhearts man Jon Poole, drafted in to replace bassist Nick Beggs, brings a most welcome spiky texture to these indulgent proceedings. His spaghetti lines on anti-X Factor rant Touch build in grunt throughout offering a counterfoil to Young’s quick-fingered keys solo and forming one of the record’s most powerful moments.

The evidence that this prog-based passion play may yet become the day job for Young and co is therefore mounting. Cardington could prove the tipping point.

Matt Parker
PROG Magazine
5th September 2017