Consuming the Tangible

It’s crazy how buried the US’s prog scene became in the absolute (beautiful) glut of progressive rock coming out of the UK and Italy during the 70s. For every Kansas or Styx that adjusted and stood in the rising waters to make it there were dozens if not hundreds (okay, most likely dozens) of bands who put out one of two albums and slowly sank again beneath the surface of extended keyboard pyrotechnics and odd time signatures. So cheers to New Jersey’s Mirthrandir for somehow getting a brief look at the sun as their sole album, 1976’s For You The Old Woman gets a vinyl reissue from PQR Records based out of France. Folks looking for a fix of classic era Yes, Gentle Giant, and even some Genesis will get a lot out of this compact little prog package.

The first thing that comes to my mind when listening to For You The Old Woman is acrobatic, particularly the opening number “Number Six” (the album is sequenced differently than the previously available CD). It’s a nimble instrumental, the keyboards straddling the worlds of Zappa and Passion Play-era Tull, while the rest of the band – including trumpet, flute, guitar and bass keep the melodies fast and loose. “Light Of The Candle” has a bit more of a stomping, blues rock approach, a little Deep Purple and Uriah Heep mixed into its stew of influences. The organ blends nicely with the main guitar riff, and vocally it’s a strong fit.

Everything is musically dexterous – if I had to throw a catch-all world to describe Mirthrandir it would be that. There is absolutely no capitulation to radio pressure or the urge to craft hit singles – as great as stuff like “Carry On Wayward Son” and “Renegade” Mirthrandir stubbornly refuse to concede their prog credentials. It makes for a raucous good time: both “Conversation With Personality Giver” and the title track have a lot of the pomp and play of Tull at their most unhinged, and the keyboards become dizzying at times during the solo sections. This all without epic length excursions, with most tracks sitting at the 5-8 mark and only the final track, “For Four” really stretching out to a comfortable 14 minutes.

I’ve read comparisons to other “lost” US prog bands like Happy The Man and Cathedral, and those comparisons are apt, but there’s something about the cheery mayhem vibe Mirthrandir exude (must be why the word “mirth” is in the name) that just hits me in a way the excellent albums from those excellent bands do not. As opposed to the one and done Weed album from the other day, in this case I really do bemoan the fact that we only got For You The Old Woman, though I’m extra glad someone was able to resurrect it in a fantastic vinyl format.

Check this out if you’re able. Really fun album that I will definitely put into my regular prog rotation.