After The Flood - Capstone Theatre, Liverpool, 18/3/2022

  by Lisa Torem

published: 23 / 5 / 2022

One of my guilty pleasures is to plan a solo adventure to see a film or any other cultural event. That way you just have to please yourself. You can sit back in your seat and absolve yourself of all responsibility, with the onus no longer on you. These guilty pleasures don’t materialise on the calendar often, and when they do they are to be cherished. My latest was going to see Liverpool’s After The Flood, a quartet of serious musicians headed by the supremely gifted guitarist and composer Neil Campbell. What lay before me and the rest of the appreciative audience was more than an hour of progressive music of the very highest quality. When you are enjoying yourself time seems to travel at light speed. The key, obviously, is the calibre of musicians, and After The Flood are all top notch in their departments, with considerable local musical heritage between them. The rhythm section of Viktor Nordberg (drums) and Roger Gardiner (bass) is both fluid and rock solid at the same time, belying a sort of musical telepathy. Neil Campbell pretty much orchestrates on the lead guitar front, but to overlook fellow guitarist Marty Snape’s musical contribution would be naive. It is obvious that he is an extremely accomplished musician in his own right, but his great strength to the band is filling the sonic registers left potentially bereft as Campbell blasts off on another stratospheric solo. And yet Snape shows his composing credentials when the band perform one of his songs – 'Ten Men Dead' - sung by Una Quinn, who is no slouch on the songwriting stakes herself. Her debut album “Inside Out” is also a must listen. But it is not all about Neil Campbell. Yes, he is a mesmerising guitarist, but he is allowed musical latitude because his fellow musicians are more than technically proficient enough to support him and they have an obvious emotional connection to his musical pathway. But the man’s playing is simply staggering. If you like and appreciate thoughtful progressive music along the lines of King Crimson’s more esoteric moments, then After The Flood are your group of choice. Buckle up and let them take you across continents and other worlds of musicality. And as you look across to your fellow audience member, nod sagely. Sometimes it’s okay to share guilty pleasures, especially when they are this good. SET LIST To the New World To Asia From Africa Europe After the Rain Higher 517 Symzonia Don and Walt's Hawaiian Vacation Solar Monarch Land Locked Deja Two 5HTP Lantra Ten Men Dead 3572 The Great Escape

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