Nine Stones Close: Traces (10th Anniversary edition)

Nine Stones Close was/is a progressive rock band from The Netherlands. The band started as a solo project for multi-instrumentalist Adrian Jones, who also formed Jet Black Sea in 2013.

I have heard a couple of the band’s releases, including their 2010 sophomore effort titled Traces. In 2020, the band decided to commemorate that album’s tenth anniversary with a remixing/remastering makeover as well as new artwork.

The band has a mournful sound spread over five tracks and around forty-five minutes of music. The music is built around Jones’ fabulous guitar work, whether he’s laying down textural chords or scintillating solos. It is all played with class and finesse, so guitar fans should take notice. “Reality Check� begins the album with a gentle guitar, quite mournful and elegant. It builds slowly, adding subtle percussion and layers of moodiness from guitar and keyboards, it is all very pleasing on the ears. Eventually a blistering guitar solo takes hold, ensuring the listener never gets too comfortable. “Threads� is a ten minute epic, again quite wistful with textured guitar passages and effective use of reverb. The music ventures into a cleaner sound, coloured with keyboards, before returning to a wicked guitar solo from Jones. The slowly evolving sound can be quite hypnotic, this is definitely an album that requires your full attention. “Falling To Pieces� begins ever so softly with acoustic strums and fragile vocals laid over mood laden keyboards leading to a Gilmour-like lead guitar overloaded with feel. The piece flows peacefully as more lead guitar bursts through the calm. A highly reflective piece with superb detail and song craft. The title track is another slow grower with nods to both Pink Floyd and Porcupine Tree, with wonderful lead vocals from Atkinson. Another fine guitar solo breaks out in the song’s second half. The album ending “Thicker Than Water� ebbs and flows through four parts, very atmospheric with stunning lead guitar throughout.

I should also mention the album’s lovely production, so clear and detailed, a real treat for the ears.

Although the album never strays far from its slow to midtempo roots, Traces does exactly what it needs to do. A stellar listen all the way through!

A Freia Music release.

The players:
Adrian Jones (guitars, bass, additional keyboards on “Thicker Than Water�)
Brendan Eyre (keyboards)
Marc Atkinson (vocals)
Neil Quarrell (bass)
Eric Jones (drums)

Track Listing:
1. Reality Check (4:55)
2. Threads (10:30)
3. Falling To Pieces (6:16)
4. Traces (7:19)
5. Thicker Than Water (14:49)
a. Part 1 �" Innersense
b. Part 2 �" Firelight Shadows
c. Part 3 �" Secrets Revealed
d. Part 4 �" Acquiescence

Added: March 24th 2023
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Band @ Bandcamp
Hits: 785
Language: english

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