Music from the yesterdays and today!

'Endless Journey' is the second album from Instant Flight and features their intricately arranged yet catchy 'late period' psychedelia. The band plough their own furrow musically and although there must be inspiration and influences in there somewhere they're not obvious, so this is no re-hash or hat tipping exercise, it's an honest attempt to carve out their own place within the genre. The standard of songwriting, arrangement and playing throughout is very high and the tracks all exist within their own space. The prominence of different instruments on individual songs also displays the band's desire to work from a broad palette, which bodes well for the future as they're unlikely to paint themselves into a corner musically.

'Back To The Light' is an anthemic starter to the proceedings with a great weaving melody and some great Hammond organ playing to boot. 'Endless Journey' utilises eastern musical influences to great effect. 'Universe In A Verse' rings the changes with lots of brass behind the main framework of the song. 'Dreamland' allows' those famous flute sounds' found on a Mellotron to augment the guitar sounds and some nice slide guitar textures are added for good measure. Final track, 'Play For Fool' rounds the proceedings off in a more prog rock style.

Instant Flight have come up with a well thought out set of songs that engage and entertain the listener from start to finish. The production, recording and mixing of the songs is very well executed and all the instruments used are warm sounding and layered to great effect. 'Endless Journey' is a journey indeed as the music moves easily along, taking in great melodic pop elements, some heavy guitar moments, some elements of early prog rock all of which is combined with the best aspects of adventurous psychedelic music. Great band, playing great music....you can't go wrong really!

Reviewed by Kevin Wallbank.