Tag Archives: The Reasoning

The Reasoning – Awakening

Posted on May 20, 2007 by Tim Hall

Another belated review. This one’s only two months old.

Cardiff’s The Reasoning are one of three bands to arise from the ashes of the original lineup of Karnataka, which imploded in 2004. The band includes Karnataka’s former lead vocalist Rachel Jones, and bassist Matt Cohen, formerly of Magenta. Their debut album was one of the most eagerly awaited for the first part of the year.

While the presence of Rachel Jones is invitably going to draw comparisons with her previous band, musically The Reasoning are a quite different beast. Compared to Karnataka’s atmospheric keyboard-driven sound, The Reasoning’s twin guitar lineup is more prog-tinged melodic hard rock than atmopheric celtic prog. And do they indeed rock out on this album.

It’s well-produced album with a crisp, clear sound courtesy of Dave Meegan of Marillion fame. Rachel shares lead vocal duties with Dylan Thomson, who I’ve heard compared with Frances Dunnery of It Bites, and the fact the Dylan sings more lead than Rachel is perhaps the album’s only fault. Several of the songs get stuck in the brain after just a couple of listens, notably “Aching Hunger”, “Fallen Angels” and the atmopheric “Sacred Shape”, perhaps the closest-sounding song to Karnataka, despite being sung by Dylan. Celtic prog sounds also surface in the album closer “Within Cold Glass” which features guest appearances from Marillion’s Steve Rothery and The Bluehorses Liz Prendergast.

For a debut album, this is an impressive piece of work. I look forward to the followup, to be recorded in the new year.

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The Reasoning, Crewe Limelight, 19 Apr 2007

Posted on April 23, 2007 by Tim Hall

Thursday night was the first of three gigs in four days, The Reasoning at Crewe Limelight. I’d previously seen their first ever gig at the Uplands Tavern in Swansea back in January. That was very much a low-key warmup gig in preparation for the tour to come. This one was a higher profile show at a larger rock club, which happens to be one of my favourite small venues. I phoned the venue the night before the gig, to be informed they’d sold a grand total of 13 tickets, so I concluded I’d have no problem getting tickets on the door. In the end, fears of an almost empty venue proved unfounded; there were about 150 people there, about the same number as for Karnataka a few weeks back. Of that 150 I recognised an awful lot of familiar faces; the north-west Mostly Autumn fanbase had turned up in force.

Support was Touchstone, a band I hadn’t seen before, although I’d read some favourable reviews. They play the same sort of blend of melodic hard and progressive textures as the headliners. This gig marked the debut of their new singer, Kim Serviour, yet another of those performers who make me feel old by not having been born when I started going to gigs. They played an entertaining and energetic set; I think we’ll be hearing more from this band in future.

The Reasoning didn’t hit the stage until gone 10pm. Their performance was an order of magnitude better than the somewhat nervous set in Swansea three months before. The whole band were far tighter and more confident, and were clearly enjoying being on stage. Naturally they drew much of their set from their excellent debut album “Awakening”. They still included a few Karnataka favourites, the highlight of which was still the amazing ‘Talk to Me’. Those more atmospheric Karnataka oldies don’t quite sit comfortably with the rockier and more guitar-driven new material, but at this stage in their career it’s still great to hear them performed live. While I don’t remember the complete setlist, I think they played the whole of the new album. The encore was the atmospheric epic ‘Within Cold Glass’ followed by their barnstorming cover of ‘Stormbringer’, with Rachel singing Glenn Hughes’ vocal parts. I’m sure there was a hint of Tommy Bolin in Dylan’s guitar fills too.

Since I had some time to spare before the late train out of Crewe, I had time for a brief chat with Dylan, Matt and Rachel, and Kim from Touchstone. They all remembered me from Swansea; I’m not sure if that’s a good or a bad thing.

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