Legendary guitarist Robin Trower (ex-Procol Harum) surely needs no introduction and he has been more prolific and creative than ever these past few years. His latest record entitled "Coming Closer to the Day" is firmly rooted in the blues and starts off well with the groovy  "Diving Bell".  "Truth or Lies" follows suit and hangs on a solid riff while the title track is a fantastic piece with a hauntingly beautiful vibe to it due to its slithering melodies and mysterious aura. Another outstanding cut is the strangely upbeat  "Someone of Great Renown". Only the last three tunes on the album seem a bit mundane and lackluster compared to the rest of it.

It should come as no surprise that there are some excellent riffs and solos present on the disc throughout and that they range from gritty to playful and further on to exquisite and melancholic. Trower knows exactly what he is doing and there is no shortage of confidence or determination anywhere in sight. The production is warm and fuzzy, the musicianship is superb, and the songs all bear the trademarks of Robin’s style and musical identity, but between them they do not vary that much really. Whether one digs his voice or not is a matter of taste and preference. Personally, I think his vocal range is a bit too limited to really tackle these compositions and that is probably the main flaw of this album. The songs are definitely there, but his voice does not always do them justice. Then again, there are some truly well-written and amazing tracks on this album and I dare say that all fans of Trower will find the endeavor interesting and satisfying. To me, it is one of those outputs that one has to listen to a number of times in order to fully appreciate it, and I love the fact that the lyrics lead one to believe that he is wearing his heart on his sleeve. There are also some subtle R&B influences here and there, which is pretty cool, and all in all this is a focused effort. Again, the vocals are a tad hit-or-miss for me and "Coming Closer to the Day" may not be the most easily accessible record his, but it is a fine one nonetheless and deserves praise for its atmosphere and depth.

 

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