The Reasoning - Awakening / Dark Angel

* * * * *  /  * * * *

I really rate these first two albums by The Reasoning.  "Awakening" is an astonishingly confident debut.  The band at this stage boasted three vocalists, the rather plain sounding Rachel Cohen (nee Jones, ex-Karnataka), guitarist Dylan Thompson and keyboard player Gareth Jones.  The three vocalists blended sublimely on some very strong material.  Unfortunately the powerhouse six-piece line-up did not last.  Dylan and Gareth have now moved on, and the band is poorer for it.  In fact, of the original six-piece only Rachel and her husband Matthew, the bassist, remain.

"Awakening" features the outstanding title track, "Shadows Of The Mind", the Tolkien-esque "Chasing Rainbows", "Aching Hunger" and "Sacred Shape".

"Dark Angel" is the second album. It's not as strong as the first one, but it is very good despite that.  Standout track here is "Call Me God?" which with the departure of the male vocalists we are unlikely to ever hear again, I guess.  There was a double disc edition with a DVD featuring the "Making Of" documentary and priceless live footage of the early three vocalist line-up.

Availability of these early releases is patchy, so get them while you can.

I really hope The Reasoning produce some top notch material in the future with their new 5-piece line-up. You can find out about the band at their website http://www.thereasoning.com/home.php  I'm not sure what has happened to Gareth Jones, but Dylan Thompson has launched a new band Shadow Of The Sun, of which more may be found here.

Stop Press:  Gareth Jones has been in touch, as you can see from the comments below.  He has launched a new band along with fellow Reasoning refugee, Vinden Wylde.  The band is Sankara, and you can find my review of their first CD release here.