Marc Atkinson is a special musician for me. He has been influential to me, not just in his music, but also in his lyrics. There are some musicians from whom I buy an album without thinking, and he is one of them. His new album released on July 7th, and it is called Heart & Soul.
Marc is the vocalist for Riversea and Moon Halo. He is ex-Nine Stones Close, as well. He has been part of some excellent progressive rock groups, but his solo material is a little different. And I like it that way. He hails from the UK.
The music here is basically acoustic singer-songwriter rock. It is velvety smooth, not only because of his amazing voice, but also because he is a fantastic acoustic guitarist. So, no, this album isn’t complicated, but it is deeply human and beautiful, and full of harmony and grace. I love that. I will say that he uses some electric guitar and drums on some tracks this time, which he doesn’t always do.
I have almost all Marc’s solo albums, and this is probably one of his best. The songs are tightly written, addictive and laden with hooks, and speak to my soul. The lyrics are predictably wonderful, as I had no doubt that would be the case. And did I mention the hooks? Marc has written some terrific choruses here, and I especially like his harmonies as they really add life and flow to everything.
We get thirteen songs on this album, and they are all great. I’ll admit that I like that second half of the album better. In the first half, there are gems like the title track opener, which is so warm and vibrant. It sets the tone well. “See Right Through You” is a rhythmic piece that feels 90s to me, and that’s a compliment; I love the chorus on that one. “Changes” is an emotional and personal piece; the lyrics speak to me. “The Way That You Love Me” feels connected to it, too, and is a flirty ballad that makes me think of my wife. “Burning Down the Effigies” and “The End of the World” are similar, too, with their use of electric guitar and groovy bass. I love to hear Marc sing along to songs like that. “Burning Down the Effigies” is one of my favorites overall, too, because of the excellent harmonies in the second half.
The next half of the album has some amazing treasures. “Still Believe in You” is such a great song of encouragement and grace. “Gravity” is even better, though, with a beautiful guitar solo and gorgeous vocal rounds in the end—I want to hear Marc do that more often. The last five songs on the record are so, so good. “Have You Seen Alice” speaks to my love for Alice in Wonderland; it is catchy and nostalgic and I love it, especially the voiceover reading parts of the book. “Her Home by the Sea” is the longest song, and it feels grey and melancholy, but also homey and expected, if you know what I mean. The groovy instrumental near the end is icing on the cake.
“Before the Day the World Dies” is a candid song with amazing vocals. “Never Give Up” is another favorite with its heavier sound; the guitars are all out on this one, and it is pretty damn catchy. The closer, “The Dance of Light & Dark”, is a shadowy piece with gravy vocals from Marc. It feels like a flickering flame, a work of shadows cast on library walls. I love the feelings it gives me.
Marc has another great album on his hands. If you can appreciate tremendous vocals with great acoustic guitars and thoughtful lyrics, you will love this. I hope everyone buys a copy. Heart & Soul deserves your ears.
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The PROG Mind 