The Mentulls

Recipe For Change

(ProgBlues Music)

8.5/10

By Paul Davies



There’s a re-visionary potency to this third Mentulls album release on which notable Prog/AOR influences are skilfully crafted into each track delivered with crisp musicianship that spookily sound box fresh. 

Carefully curated nods and winks to Tull, Camel, Rush, Toto, Journey, and more dot The Mentulls musical landscape like cultural signposts of refined taste on this recording. Cannily invoking the everlasting spirit of their influences, the uplifting ear pleasing opener Easy To Walk Away introduces a run of nine classy songs that maintain a high watermark of quality throughout.  Searing synths by Jamie Pipe (who also handles the keyboard duties in Martin Barre’s live band and looks a little like erstwhile Tull bass player Glenn Cornick circa 1969) sizzle from the speakers on title track Recipe For Change. Smart guitar lines from his brother Andrew Pipe and vocals from multi-instrumentalist David Neil Crabtree combine to deliver a strong signature sound.

Interestingly, Opened My Eyes contains a guitar solo reminiscent of Camel’s Andrew Latimer in its tone and construction that adds more flavour to this tasteful menu of sonic delights. Of note, Crabtree’s vocals blend in beautifully with the melodic rock tropes found herein especially on the catchy Learning Through Living. Adding an extra texture to this rich mix, Summit Fever unfurls its charms with a chiming guitar riff anchored by pulsating bass and a Tull-esque middle eight guitar part that piques more than a passing interest for those in the know. Elsewhere, the aptly titled Smoke and Mirrors has an alluring vocal melody buoyed by a guitar and drum jazz/rock blow out worthy of some of their musical heroes. 

There’s even a nailed on AOR power ballad as Saviour rubs padded shoulders with any similar Foreigner/Journey classic from the 80s. Clearly, it’s the breadth of memorable melodies throughout executed with an infectious flair that impresses. Take the instrumental Find A Way To This Journey’s End that airily takes flight on a jaunty guitar riff that mainlines a Rush/Hackett vibe without falling into any musical copyist bear traps. It's a masterclass of how to be apart from within.  Final track World Made Of Sound is just that: a world of their own construct that trades elite level influences where they have stamped their own identity as a band right across this intriguing release.

Produced by Wayne Proctor, who also contributes on drums, there’s an ultra-fine soundscape cultivated throughout this third time lucky release. And these multipartite compositions reveal further complex tasting notes upon repeated listens. A sure-fire sign that this album is a keeper.