Dandelion Charm are a duo from Brighton, UK, who play Progressive Rock permeated with acoustic sounds. Their fourth and new album “Scream Inside The Tear” was released on October 20, 2023 and contains 13 tracks between 3 and 8 minutes long. The line-up of this project consists of Clare Fowler with her intense and delicate female vocals and multi-instrumentalist and vocalist John Fowler. This pair offers a personal style of Prog Rock in which the two voices pleasantly intertwine. The music, predominantly acoustic and entirely played by John, is characterised by guitar and keyboard twists of 70s inspiration but brought into a fresh and modern context by their personal style. The rhythm sections are enriched by tempo changes and in some tracks they offer an energetic and engaging sound, always remaining true to their symphonic and delicate style. The lyrics deal with intense themes of life, both earthly and after death, mental health such as anxiety and psychosis, the unexpected effects and anger surrounding death. But it is not just an album with dark themes, as it contains hope and acceptance; the joy of living in the moment and appreciating the life we have. 13 tracks that accompany us on this journey through the band’s sounds, interpreting the themes of the lyrics with pathos and intensity. The duo manages to find the perfect meeting point between retro and modern sounds, between acoustic music and symphonic progressive rock. As described on their Bandcamp page, think Crosby Stills and Nash meets Tori Amos, Fleetwood Mac meets Opeth, or Joni Mitchell meets Yes. A description I completely agree with, as their sound is a blend of the aforementioned artists. A very intense listen, full of interesting insights from beginning to end. The tracklist is very varied, offering a wide range of facets all related to the Prog genre, presented with their own personal and original touch. A recommended listen for lovers of Prog music, between the genre’s past and present, another good record release from the band.
Tracklist
01. Stronghold Of Oblivion (05:32)
02. Shouting At The Sea (05:12)
03. Find A Way (03:17)
04. Visions And Prophecies (06:17)
05. Ruth Rose (04:35)
06. The Engineering Of Consent (08:06)
07. Daydreaming In The Undertow (04:57)
08. Because (05:15)
09. Warriors Of The Morning (04:20)
10. The Cure (05:46)
11. Today (04:59)
12. The Benefit Of Experience (05:09)
13. What Alchemy? (04:19)
Lineup
Clare Fowler / Vocals
John Fowler / Vocals, Acoustic Drums, Bass, Keys, Guitars