CD Review: It Bites - Map of the Past

Written by Christopher Nosnibor Thursday, 07 June 2012 22:20

Artist: It Bites
Title: Map of the Past
Genre: Progressive
Release Date: 26th March 2012
Label: Inside Out

Album Review

It may be difficult for the casual listener to reconcile the IT BITES behind the 1986 hit ‘Calling All the Heroes’ and the term “progressive”. It probably doesn’t help that the band’s two ‘best of’ collections both carry the title of that single that is, it has to be said, a shade unrepresentative of their output. After all, the title track from the album that followed that monster smash, ‘Once Around The World’, which was produced by Steve Hillage and indulged their progressive side rather more than its predecessor, clocked in just shy of the 15 minute mark. Hell, the band toured with the likes of MARILLION and JETHRO TULL. But then they also toured with GO WEST, which gives an indication of their crossover status.

That, however, was then, and the band split in 1990 for six years following the departure of front man Francis Dunnery. Their second post-reformation album featuring replacement front man John Mitchell is billed as a ‘concept’ album, and while it might not contain any tracks that exceed seven minutes, it could well in many respects be their proggiest work to date. That said, it retains a poppy accessibility too, making for an interesting proposition. Opener ‘Man in the Photograph’ begins with the crackle of a transistor radio, and a lonely-sounding fan organ sets a nostalgic tone for Mitchell’s reflective lyrics. I can’t help but be reminded of Del Amitri until the strings; brass and marching drum bring a sense of grandeur to the track. And then with a lurch, it segues into the big rock-out of ‘Wallflower’, which juxtaposes orchestral blasts against chunky guitars to surprisingly good effect.

If the title track gets a bit GENESIS, it’s compensated by the OCEANSIZE-esque ‘Clocks’, and similarly, if ‘Flag’ sounds a bit like the AOR of MR MISTER, ‘The Big Machine’ has an epic feel, with a driving guitar offset by clanking industrial incidentals and a spiralling organ break that would have Rick Wakeman kicking himself for not having written it. The album’s real strength is its diversity, the band’s ability to switch to something a bit unexpected, while retaining a strongly cohesive feel. Structurally, the songs are interesting, too, and rarely predictable - yet still with strong and definite choruses, making for a varied and ultimately satisfying listen.


Tracklist

01. Man in the Photograph
02. Wallflower
03. Map of the Past
04. Clocks
05. Flag
06. The Big Machine
07. Cartoon Graveyard
08. Send No Flowers
09. Meadow and the Stream
10. The Last Escape
11. Exit Song


Line-up

Bob Dalton - Drums
John Mitchell - Guitar / Vocals
John Beck - Keyboards
Lee Pomeroy - Bass


Website

http://www.itbites.com/


Cover Picture




Rating

Music: 7
Sound: 6
Total: 6.5 /10