Reviewed by
RedPrint brings us a very visceral, hauntingly catchy and emotionally engaging experience with this 6-minute epic journey. “Inner Court” definitely doesn’t feel like it is that long of a song (and in the world of music-especially prog-there are some enormously lengthy and challenging songs out there (enjoyable but quite an experience you need the time to fully listen and experience))
With an introductory lone acoustic guitar which sets up the haunting melodic motif straight away without you realising until later in the piece-the drums, bass and electric guitars join in on a riff which is so musically tight it gives an almost claustrophobic feeling-matching the lyrical themes incredibly well (vocals are sublime here too-again reinforcing the melodic structure of this insistent riff-as we are taken on a lyrical voyage into the inner-self, walking the tightrope of sanity and insanity…yet there is a feeling of resilience there too) …and once the electric violin joins on the theme which stalks all the way throughout this piece, now you find that “Inner Court” has immediately reeled you in…or you find yourself locked within this song…this a brilliantly structured, tight yet very loose grip on that very catchy melody. As we “wander empty halls, every door is fate…walls have wicked laughs…” dark imagery yet familiar “walls are closing in…” the resilience shows on “my battle cry”…”open my eyes to the world shining bright on me…” once the “tiny shred of hope” appears-the music and vocals seem take on the “executioner” in an inner battle for freedom…the most captivating part of this song is the feeling that the rhythm section, guitars, bass and drums speed up and swirl around the haunting motif from the electric violin and the lead guitar offer the protagonist a virtual musical battering ram…even as we close the piece in a slow cadence we feel the inner (and outer) battle has been won. We are free from that place we were in at the beginning. I’ll reiterate here that this is my feelings on the piece- but there is definitely a feeling of hope and resilience offered to those struggling with inner battles every day…there is a silver lining even within the worst moments. There IS a rose to be found in the compost…the rose here is this song and the message that it conveys brilliantly-both musically, and lyrically is a message of inner strength, resilience and yes hope…(to sound oddly like I’m quoting the original Star Wars…)
The band around the vocalist here are those friendships you find in the worst moments who you know are there to help you through whatever struggles you’re going to face. This piece is an experience that uplifts and demonstrates exactly that which gives us strength is within and without ourselves. In the worst of times there is an inner resolve which is strengthened by the friendships and the inner and outer armour we forge. Huge thanks to these legends of our community (and in all sincerity there are many of those around our indie scene) RedPrint for gifting us with not only this magnificent piece of music- but for also being a part of an indie community which appreciates one another and highlights the strengths of each other. Your contributions to this indie scene helps make all of our voices as strong as the voice of the rising tides.
