Far and Wide
Far And Wide makes a good argument for keeping things clear. The Pineapple Thief have the ability to fill every available space, but these songs often gain their strength from what the band choose to leave out. Guitars, keyboards, bass and drums work as a close unit, with Bruce Soord's voice keeping the human concern at the centre.
The album was built with the live band in mind, and that gives its nine tracks a useful sense of purpose. There is less distance between the writing and the way the songs are presented. The arrangements can still shift and grow, but the music rarely stops to announce how clever it is. Gavin Harrison's drumming is central to that balance, shaping the movement of a song rather than simply decorating it.
New World Order opens with an uneasy outlook and a firm rhythmic base. That tension continues through the record, giving the measured performances something to push against. The music remains controlled even when its subject feels less certain. Still Living brings a softer side to that approach, while Scattering Like Flies allows the guitar to express some of the anxiety running underneath the album.
This restraint will not satisfy every kind of prog fan. The band are more interested in small changes of pressure than sudden displays of speed, and the consistent mood can make the middle feel less immediate. The songs ask for attention, even when they do not demand it through volume.
The longer closing No Exceptions gives that patience a fitting destination. More broadly, Far And Wide succeeds because the playing and the writing stay in conversation. It is detailed music that remains easy to follow, and a serious album that never needs to make itself difficult. The Pineapple Thief know how to hold back without leaving the songs short of feeling.
