Arik’s Journey: Arik's Journey

There’s no doubt that if the global pandemic has brought one positive, it is that the enforced downtime so many people had to endure allowed a plethora of unfinished projects (musical or otherwise) to be completed. This was the case for Ian Hill, a multi-instrumentalist who began composing what would become the 49 minute single track Arik’s Journey when he was 17 years of age. Quite amazingly that means that this album began life way back at some point between 1977 and 1980, although it wasn’t until 1996 that a serious demo version of the music would come to life. Hill would often go back and listen to those recordings, but with time always against him it isn’t until now that it has reached completion and I for one am delighted that Arik’s Journey ended up not being simply put to the side and forgotten about.

Using the likes of Genesis and Yes and the music of Mike Oldfield as a starting point may be completely understandable given when this project began, but the era when it was truly fleshed out also strongly informs the results, with a real UK neo-prog flavour running right across this one track album. What does prove a really pleasant surprise here, given that this is an epic work and one devoid of vocals, is just how accessible the whole endeavour becomes. Cleverly, while the action never once ceases, obvious little breaks and diversions do still add the feel of an ever evolving album, rather than one overlong song. Complexity too, while inherent in the tone of the music, sits happily in the backseat as guitar lines, lush keyboards and clever musical interplay use emotion and atmosphere to impress in place of flurries of notes, or barrages of percussive meanderings. Hill proves to be quite the engaging composer, with the Oldfield influence strong in the way the guitars become capable of telling a story that’s embellished and highlighted by both keen keyboard leads and the fulsome backing they also provide.

Admittedly those very aspects may lead some to find Arik’s Journey just a little too immediate, or that there aren’t a huge amount of surprises revealed the more you listen. And yet, that hasn’t prevented me from thoroughly enjoying my first - and every other - visit to this album.

It may have taken the best part of 45 years and a global pandemic to finally allow this piece of music to see the light of day, but whatever the circumstances, Ian Hill can be very proud of the end results. Arik’s Journey may be considerably shorter than its own evolution but this 49 minute voyage never once disappoints.

Track Listing
1. Arik’s Journey

Added: March 3rd 2022
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Ian Hill @ bandcamp
Hits: 826
Language: english

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