Published on May 29, 2003
It’s been ten years since the last Procol Harum studio album,
and to be honest I thought the band might have finally called it
quits. But, then again, Procol Harum was quite active on the
European concert front in recent years, even managing to release a
live DVD.
The Well’s On Fire is a very laid-back record. The band
isn’t obviously trying to break any new ground here, but the music
is good, and gets better with each listen. At this point Procol
Harum has long since established its own sound and style, and is
definitely sticking to its guns. Gary Brooker sounds as good as
ever. It’s his voice that really makes this album shine, but that’s
the case with any Brooker/Procol release for this writer.
Besides Gary’s pipes, Matthew Fisher’s organ is another great
feature. He definitely has a sound that is irreplaceable, and very
original. Just try to imagine the basic sound of “Whiter Shade Of
Pale” and you’ll know what I mean. Fisher, however, plays very
gently, and doesn’t abuse his presence on the album. In other
words, he appears where he’s needed.
Procol Harum’s music these days can be considered an adult
ontemporary, as it has a very peaceful flow. I tend to call it
night music. You know, when the lights are dim, you’re drinking
wine, and listen to something gentle, yet very rhythm-oriented.
That’s where this album fits in. I wonder how does this material
will work live. It certainly has a potential to develop into
interesting set. On the other hand, Procol Harum has so many great
songs to choose from that it will be difficult to knock down the
classics in favor of the new songs.
The question is, was this the album everyone was waiting for the
last ten years? It’s hard to answer that, and you can look at it
from both angles. On the positive side, it is a very good music
played by a band with definite feel, and great amount of
professionalism. And on the negative angle, it doesn’t really bring
anything new to the band’s already established norms. I prefer to
stick with the first view, as I thoroughly enjoy this album.