Steve Thorne - Levelled - Emotional Creatures : Part 3 (2020)

6th studio album by British progressive rock musician.

More information: For this album, Steve has a fresh and extremely downsized guest list of musicians in complete contrast to the past. The drums are played by Kyle Fenton (Cosmograf) with lead guitar parts played by local artist Geoff Lea. Steve plays all other instruments himself as usual.

"The album is sure to challenge pretty much everybody lyrically with its controversial subject matter!" (Steve Thorne)

Born in Southampton, UK, Steve Thorn has had a bit of a long career but is largely an unknown entity across the pond here in the US. In the 80s and 90s, he was a founding member of both COLONY EARTH and THE SALAMDER PROJECT and the only inkling you find of either is some videos from 1989 of a COLONY EARTH gig. His previous groups covered a whole range of styles but he seems to now sit firmly in rock and pro-rock genres. A multi-instrumentalist and a bit of session player for UK-based prog groups such as JADIS and IQ, he ventured out with his first solo album in 2005 with “Emotional Creatures: Part One” followed up by “Part Two: Emotional Creatures” in 2007. He seemed to have abandoned his “Emotional Creatures” concept with a trio of albums – 2009’s “Into the Ether”, 2012’s “Crimes & Reasons” and 2016’s “Island of the Imbeciles”. But he has returned to continue his exploration with the similarly nonconforming titled “Levelled: Emotional Creatures Part 3”

The press release I was given warned that I may find some of the lyrical content offensive. With this album, Thorn questions many of the conventions and beliefs we hold as truths – likening them to cult-like beliefs – of “Scientism”, “Heliocentrism”, and acceptance that man landed on the moon to name a few. It isn’t entirely clear if Thorn himself doesn’t accept these truths or if it is simply the character that he created for his concept that is questioning things. The music itself is safe, neo-progressive with a pop-y tinge. Think the PINK FLOYD, ARK or the quiet side of PORCUPINE TREE or MARILLION with a voice similar to Fish. At times brit-pop like THE BEATLES inspired “Monkey Business”, but most times soft and contemplative which “Waking Up”, “Waves” and the spooky, minimal “Psalm 2.0” does well with a solo sounding very much like David Gilmour. If you want edgier prog rock, check out “Word Salad Surgery” with an excellent outro solo.

What surprised me is that this release does not seem to have the plethora of guest artists that Thorn typically rounds up from his many connections made over the years. Thorn obviously writes all the music but previous quests Tony Levin - a highly well-respected bass and especially chapmen stick player in the prog community - and Nick D’Virgilio of SPOCK’S BEARD in particular added clout and some much needed dynamic to Thorn’s compositions. Drums this time are played by Kyle Fenton of COSMOGRAF and lead guitar parts provided by local artist Geoff Lea are perfectly suitable and especially the latter adds some much needed spice to otherwise adequate neo-prog pieces. While the subject matter does make you think, the level of energy never seems to lift me up enough to pick out many favorites in the mix.