Prog rock royalty gets together for something majestic
It is, as a much better writer than MV might have said “a mighty long way down rock n roll” these days, so perhaps the term “Supergroup” needs updating. Nonetheless, it’s the best we have right now to describe the trio that make up The Mute Gods.
The problem is, that word used to conjure up images of overblown music that added precisely nothing to the careers of the men making it. In that respect it’s entirely inappropriate to use here as “Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me” is quite brilliant.
A collection of songs that Nick Beggs, bassist to Steven Wilson and Steve Hackett – amongst many others – had been writing for a couple of years while doing his day job, he roped in his mates Roger King (also part of Steve Hackett’s band) and drummer extraordinaire Marco Minneman (who drummed on Wilson’s stunning “The Raven That Refused To Sing” as well as being part of Kreator once upon a time) and the results are quite incredible.
The slow building of the title track tells you as much, telling the tale of some apocalyptic event, but doing so in its own way and its own pace, it gives way to the bands nominal eponymous song which meanders along with little flourishes and a genuinely catchy hook, but it’s the song that completes a wonderful opening trio that really takes the eye. The story of regretting lost love has been done probably since cavemen first made sound, we’d wager though, that it hasn’t often been done as well – or as personally – as the beautiful and lilting “Nightschool For Idiots” and only those with the hardest heart imaginable could fail to be moved by it.
Largely, although the opening few had been bombast free, you always suspected that this wouldn’t continue forever, and as such the heavy “Feed The Troll” and “Your Dark Ideas” slip up a few gears and shows the likes of Dream Theater a clean pair of heels as they sate their anger.
It scarcely needs saying that the musicianship here is incredible, but it is worthy perhaps of pointing out that “……From Me” never feels like a record that only those of a chin stroking musical bent could enjoy. Indeed the skill here is that whilst each of the men gets his chance to shine – King and Beggs in particular are brilliant on the aforementioned “….Ideas” – it is only ever done with the song in mind rather than the ego of the person playing it. It is noticeable that even the instrumental here, “In The Crosshairs” is short and very sweet, where most would get lost in dazzling themselves.
The oddly hypnotic “Strange Relationships” gets under the skin superbly, while “Swimming Horses” takes its time, and benefits from the chance to breathe, while the closing “Father Daughter” (although there are a pair of bonus tracks here too) has echoes of Beggs’ usual sidekick Wilson and the use of female vocals here – from Beggs’ daughter Lula – is particularly striking.
Supergroup? Yeah maybe. Only in that the record is super. “Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me” is greater than the sum of its parts and you can’t pay it any higher praise than that.
Rating 9/10
