Review by Paul Monkhouse for MPM
It’s been fascinating watching the ever changing development of Oli Brown as he’s gone from Blues prodigy through to the pounding heavy rock of RavenEye and now onto the growing profile of The Dead Collective.
It’s been a time of soul searching and struggle, the cathedral-filling sounds of the previous ‘Prologue’ seeming a catharsis as the singer and guitarist does what he does best and puts those feelings into jaw dropping and affecting music.
‘Epilogue’ is the continuation of the story and again hits unimaginable heights as it starts off quietly and grows into something truly epic as the five tracks expand. Once more accompanied by old friends Sam Wood on guitar and Wayne Proctor on drums, the trio are forging their own, distinct path and this latest release channels the spirit of Jeff Buckley and Alter Bridge into something unique and really quite special.
The soulful chill of ‘Another Day (Solitude Session)’ opens, it’s sparseness and atmosphere redolent of some of Buckley Jr’s finest, the following ‘I Won’t Leave’ putting the foot on the gas a little as subtle fireworks explode as it rises, leading to a rocking solo.
The music here is a journey for all three members of the band and the stripped back approach lets the trio breath, each bringing their own special magic to proceedings as the sublime fretwork of Wood and Proctor’s perfect drums underpin and compliment the soul-lifting voice of Brown in what is his finest hour thus far.
With the sky-scraping ‘Home Sweet Home’ and stadium conquering ‘Another Day Lost’ completing this quartet of new tracks, the range and quality here is beyond reproach, the journey an exhilarating one.
With a tour looming and the prospect of seeing how this will all transpose to a live setting a tantalising one, one thing is for certain, Oli Brown and the Dead Collective make music that speaks to both heart and head in wonderful ways. Absolutely perfect.
For ticket information please see https://www.olibrownofficial.com
https://www.olibrownofficial.com
