Brief Nocturnes and Dreamless Sleep
Brief Nocturnes and Dreamless Sleep brings a fresh vocal presence into Spock's Beard's familiar progressive rock. Ted Leonard sings with warmth and control, while Jimmy Keegan's drumming gives the heavier passages plenty of movement. The record has strong performances and several memorable songs, even when its arrangements lean too comfortably on established habits.
Hiding Out provides an energetic introduction. Heavy guitar and active bass support a vocal performance that moves easily between quieter verses and a larger chorus. The combination is convincing, though the chorus itself is more ordinary than the detailed playing around it.
I Know Your Secret continues at a faster pace. Its rhythmic drive gives the band room for forceful riffs and instrumental detail, with a melodic middle section providing a useful change. The repeated pace can become a little wearing, but there is clear purpose in the way the musicians push the song forward.
A Treasure Abandoned gives the album a softer colour through rich keyboards and vocal harmonies. Its acoustic change adds variety, although the move between sections can sound less natural than the strongest writing elsewhere. Submerged is more direct, using Leonard's voice and a large chorus to provide an accessible pause. It works as a song, even if it offers fewer surprises.
Afterthoughts is a highlight. Layered voices, an unusual groove and harder guitar sounds make an arrangement that is both playful and demanding. The familiar vocal style still has life when the rhythm gives it a strong foundation.
Something Very Strange puts bass and keyboards into especially effective conversation. Waiting for Me then closes the original album with a longer sequence of dramatic opening chords, changing rhythms and a quieter middle. Its return to a fuller sound is satisfying, though the structure does not move far beyond the band's earlier epics.
This is a capable and often engaging record, rather than a major reinvention. Its more conventional choruses and occasional awkward joins limit the impact. The confident singing, strong instrumental exchanges and lively second half still give Brief Nocturnes and Dreamless Sleep enough character to make the familiar approach worthwhile.
