(((O))) Review: Pure Reason Revolution – Coming Up To Consciousness

It’s been four years since Pure Reason Revolution received a welcoming return with their two studio albums Eupnea (2020) and Above Cirrus (2022) to critical acclaim. You never know what Pure Reason Revolution would do next. But all of that would change as the band would come up with new material that finds inspiration of tragedy, loss, writer’s block, and creating a powerful return this year with their sixth studio release from the InsideOut label, Coming Up to Consciousness.

Inspired by the loss of Jon Courtney’s much-loved 17-year-old family dog named Dennis, who he had to put down in August of 2022, the band pour their heart and soul dealing with the themes of loss Courtney had to go through along with his family. And it expresses the emotions he had to deal with.

The music has a strong sense of beauty, dealing with losing someone in your family, and the struggle to carry on and move forward, knowing that their spirit will always be watching you, wherever you go. There’s also a change in the line-up.

Co-founder Chloe Alper has been replaced by Annicke Shireen (Shireen, Heilung). According to an article in issue 153 from PROG Magazine, she was unable to promote the Above Cirrus tour, due to other work she had to, including the live band with Manchester indie group, James. So, for Annicke, whose filling in Chloe’s footsteps, it’s going to take a lot of strength and courage to see how they will react to it.

You have to understand though, Chloe is very, very busy with other projects, which is quite understandable. But according to an interview Courtney gave with Rich Wilson in the article, “The door remains wide open for Chloe, so who knows what will happen in the future. It’s just at the moment, her schedule makes it impossible”.

Any change in a band can be a divided line in the sand. Some love the idea, some don’t. But for Shireen, she hits hard when she sings with Pure Reason Revolution. Take for example, the mellowing train-ride of mellotronic wonders of ‘Dig Till You Die’ goes into some film score momentum as the band enter the remembrance of giving the last farewell with a brutal attack for a brief moment as you start to break down in this intensive nightmare.

The drum patterns become a reflection of looking at yourself in the mirror in the startling composition ‘Betrayal’. It offers a chance to confront your inner demons, go through all of the complications you went through, and finding peace with yourself. It makes it a very emotional ride off into the night between clean and heavy guitar textures, ‘80s keyboard surroundings, and mellotrons galore.

‘The Gallows’ frames a picture, of you floating into the air with peacefulness before Jong’s harmonica, echoes into the night as it lays down some cool ‘70s orientation which speak of 10cc, early Floyd, Air, and The Flaming Lips’ Yoshimi-era, rolled into one. Jon gives out a heartfelt cry with the poetic structure on the ‘Useless Animal’.

Both he and Annicke, blend perfectly well when they sing together whilst having each other’s back as the elevator starts to go up rapidly before coming to a complete stop with some heavier orientations of pounding riffs, wailing improvisations, and alarming atmospheres that hits you like a massive ton of bricks with the organ, raising the awareness of love, across the entire universe.

‘Bend the Earth’ sends up this electro trip-hop vibe of a drum pattern dance beat as an intensive workout reflecting the styles of Radiohead and Massive Attack’s golden years with a sudden burst of energy, flying across the skies with an uplifting momentum before heading back down into the sudden ghost town atmosphere on ‘Lifeless Creature’.

With help from Guy Pratt, Pineapple Thief’s Bruce Soord and Jon Sykes, followed by Soulsplitter’s Lewin Krumpschmid, this is the band’s therapeutic release as they bring in the themes to life and give an understanding that life is short, and how we have to learn by letting things go, and move on with our lives. Yes, things will never be the same, but the healing process is a strong one that Pure Reason Revolution have unleashed for 2024.