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Pendragon - Acoustically Challenged

Artist:	Pendragon
Title:	Acoustically Challenged
Label:	Metal Mind Records PROG CD 0085 DG
Length(s):	58 minutes
Year(s) of release:	2002
Month of review:	[06/2002]

Line up

Nick Barrett - acoustic guitar, vocals
Peter Gee - acoustic guitar
Clive Nolan - keyboards, backing vocals

Tracks

1)	And We'll Go Hunting Deer	5.33
2)	Fallen Dreams And Angels	5.30
3)	A Man Of Nomadic Traits	6.20
4)	World's End	5.48
5)	The Voyager	9.06
6)	Alaska	8.38
7)	The Pursuit Of Excellence	2.23
8)	2 AM	4.19
9)	Dark Summer's Day	5.52
10)	Unspoken Words	4.45

Summary

After all those albums including a few live ones, we still hadn't seen the band trying their hand at acoustic versions (well not really, there are keyboards) of their music and see whether the songs stand. This album, released on a Polish label and having been recorded for Polish radio excludes Fudge Smith from the line-up, but the rest of the band is there. The album is fitted in a nicely artworked digipack (with lyrics) and also includes live footage and an interview with Nick Barrett.

The music

Most of the songs on this album, not surprisingly I must say, are songdirected and consist mainly of two acoustic guitar, most of the time strumming along sometimes for rhythm sometimes for melody, the vocal melody being the focus of the song. Nolan has an accompanying role. On the first track, And We'll Go Hunting Deer from the The World album, we find the trio in good form. The song itself is quite melancholic and the version on the World is already one of the more soothing pieces on that album. The music and lyrics go well together, being a sort of lament for a species of animal. I am used to having this song conclude an album, so that takes a bit getting used to. Barrett still has his accent, but also an emotional "tear" in his voice on this one.

Fallen Dreams And Angels was a song recorde originally for the SI Music label, but it is not a song often heard. To me it seems to be one of the weaker songs Pendragon made, being a bit too mellow and overmelodious for my tastes.

The inclusion of A Man Of Nomadic Traits shows that this recording is in fact a recent one, since it hails from Pendragon most recent album. It comes out quite well: the song has this typical element, that takes a listener along on a journey of some kind. On the other hand, one does at times miss the emotional guitar outburst that are so important within Pendragon. However, the song does still easily stand up after leaving this much out. Compared to the predecessor this is a much more varied and involved track and includes some real keyboard work

World's End has somber vocals, not surprising with such a title, and fluting keyboards. Later the song gets more tempo and Nolan sings some dramatic backing vocals. If you think Barrett has his tear in his voice, Nolan seems to want to burst into tears when he is singing.

Like Barrett explains on the album, The Voyager is something like an anthem for the band. The longest song on the albu, it is still three minutes shorter than in the original version. It opens with some piano, after which we get a strong vocal melody. The emotional side of the song comes over, but again I feel the lack of the power of the electric guitar solo.

One of my favourite Pendragon songs is Alaska. It is an older song hailing from the first full studio album The Jewel. Still a beautiful song with some great melodies and an emotionally sung chorus. But it is still a toned down version. The Pursuit Of Excellence is a bit of a singalong track, which is not up to par with the rest. Fortunately it is rather short, and with all these rather depressing songs, another one coming up, it may be good to have a bit of optimism once in a while. 2 AM is high on my list of favourite songs ever and never fails to give me goosebumps. It is not different in this version.

Somber and dramatic we continue with Dark Summer's Day. The nylon string guitar strums, some Spanish guitar interjections, the song is helped along by means of Nolan's piano playing. Closer Unspoken Words is a Peter Gee track, and to be honest: one does not notice. A calm piece, with some jerky playing in the middle and string synths at the end.

Conclusion

Summarizing, this is, notwithstanding my critical remarks, a good acoustic album. The music is never boring, usually quite somber and really very melodic and of course played well. If you aks me: do you miss the electric guitar, then I say yes. But on the other hand, we have quite a few albums of Pendragon with that guitar and for the quieter moments in your live, this album those moments really well showing also that Pendragon's songs stand up with ease.