Life gets in the way for some bands. That happened with The Twenty Committee after their debut in 2013. But they stuck with it, they worked it out, and here they are with their second album, The Cycle Undone. It releases on December 12th.
The band comes to us from New Jersey, USA. I originally connected with them for their debut A Lifeblood Psalm back in 2013, and became friends with them. In fact, two of the band members (one of them no longer with the band) wrote for The Prog Mind for a number of years. I honestly wasn’t sure a second album would ever happen, what with all the new careers and day jobs that ended up in the mix. For this record, the lineup includes Geoffrey Langley on lead vocals, keyboards, synthesizers, and organ; Justin Carlton on background vocals, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and additional keyboards; Joe Henderson on background vocals, drums, and percussion; Jeff Bishop on lead guitar and background vocals; and Richmond Carlton on bass, harp, and background vocals. You’ll also hear Laura Langley on autoharp and Annie Haslam of the band Renaissance on vocals.
You see the legendary vocalist for Renaissance in that lineup, correct? I think part of what took so long was that Geoffrey found himself as a live keyboardist for Renaissance. You can see him on various live DVDs of theirs, and I was privileged to see them live some years ago, as well. I think this is important, not only as a timeframe explanation, but also because Geoffrey’s writing and playing has been significantly influenced by this gig.
The Twenty Committee plays modern progressive rock with hints of the retro prog rock of yesteryear, pop influence, and an illustrious tone all their own. This band is just as comfortable with engaging, technical instrumentals as they are with emotional, beatific musical space. I’ve always liked that about them, and I think they are even stronger than ever here.
I’ll just say it: Geoffrey has probably given us the keyboard performance of the year on this album. His performance and diversity in tone and style are truly rapturous and beautiful, and his storytelling elegance is certainly the main character in this story. I’d also point to Justin and Jeff’s guitars for how brawny and muscular they are, even though they are also intricate and intimate. Wrap that up with Joe and Richmond’s groovy rhythm section, and it is easy to be impressed with what this band has produced.
But music is more than pure technique, and TTC knows that. The true soul of the album is Geoffrey’s gracious voice, and it is especially wonderful to hear him duet with Annie. With such flair and color, the band makes the most of their runtime giving us a wholesome, sometimes theatrical, and sometimes rocking offering that feels meaningful and deeply considered.
All eight tracks are terrific. I love the rocking, instrumental feast of “Recodified”; it has something of a video game vibe in the beginning, but it moves into groovy rhythms and great vocals soon enough. Another favorite, and maybe my favorite overall, is “Embers”. What a gorgeous vocal performance it has! And what a chorus! I love how mournful and personal it sounds, and there’s a sweet spot where the verses and chorus have worked themselves to a perfect peak, and then the guitar comes sweeping in with such power and personality. Excellent song.
The second half might be the strongest, though, with “Forevermore”, the title track, and then the closing one-two act of “Robot Death” and “Dust Returned”. “Forevermore” is a treat for keyboard fans; the sheer color and spirit of the synth in contrast to the quiet and intimate vocals are so effective. The title track with Annie is wonderful; you can hear respect and theatre and various movements within this 13-minute piece; I love how reserved it is at times, and it really builds up to Annie’s vocals well. Finally, “Robot Death” is possibly the most harmonious track with its great melody and guitars; the last half is basically one long guitar solo, and it is superb. I love how it casually floats into the outro, “Dust Returned”, a spacious piano musing that feels right for the closing.
The Twenty Committee are back, and I hope the next album happens sooner rather than later. The Cycle Undone is a success, though, with its amazing performances and delicious sense of melody. Geoffrey’s keys are absolutely outstanding, and so the album is like a intricate web full of color and light and meaning. I hope it makes a mark this year.
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Find The Twenty Committee online:
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The PROG Mind 