Now We Have a Light

I had no idea what to expect with Sanguine Hum (my first from them) and am totally floored. This is superbly created, arranged, emotional, modern music. I can’t draw comparisons to any other band – they are so original. I guess they could be categorized as prog-rock as the songs are longer than 3 minutes, there a lots of interesting changes, and lots of space for instrumental sections. The musicianship is tight and subtle providing only what the song needs. The keyboards and vocals really stand out for me, not to say that the bass and drums aren’t great also, but I love the sound of electric piano and it is used often. When I first heard the vocalist I thought… wow this woman can really sing… but to find out it is Joff Winks who also plays guitar.Due to the running length of the album (over 83 minutes) there are two discs. If you buy the physical copy you can read part one of the imaginative story - The Buttered Cat Conspiracy - that is supposed to be continued on their next release “Now We Have Power”.I would like to point out that at 7:35 into the song “Spanning the Eternal Abyss” my disc seems to have a glitch (a shrieking sound that seems out of place) and I wondered if others have noticed this or if this is how the band wanted it? Other than that minor glitch this is an outstanding release that I cannot stop listening to and recommend without hesitation.

"Weight of the World" was my introduction to this band and I found it to be filled to the brim with dynamic compositions and brilliant musicianship. Sadly, after 4 solid listens, I find myself wishing I had stopped there. While "Now We Have Light" is equally well composed and played it lacks the spark that instantly drew me in to WotW. Most of the songs just kind of lay there and I'm at a loss to say that I can remember anything that stands out other than their musical chops. I'll certainly check out their next release of new material but will approach it with a little more caution and less enthusiasm than I did with this one. I strongly recommend listening to more than just the 30 second preview snippets offered on the Amazon page before purchasing if you're expecting to find a continuation of the brilliance contained on WotW. 3 1/2 stars.

Another great release from the UK based Sanguine Hum! And what's better than one new album? One new double album! The Hum have created a double album of great music that retains their core signature sound without sounding repetitive or boring from start to finish! Plenty of great melodies and catchy moments on this album. Top quality musical craftsmanship here that is a joy to listen to. Sanguine Hum have added a great musical experience to this year's already bountiful collection of prog related music.

as stated for 4 stars

As modern progressive rock goes, Sanguine Hum are among the cream of the crop. This is an incredibly ambitious offering with a classic prog sound without coming across as derivative. Sure there are elements that will remind listeners of late 70's Yes, early Ambrosia, Henry Cow and even more recent acts such as Echolyn. There is no denying the top notch skill of the musicians, just check out the ferocious bass and keyboard interplay of Cat Factory. What really impresses is the uncompromising approach the group takes to create a collective whole of an album. This is straight progressive rock, no chaser. This is the greatest strength of Now We Have a Light and also what holds it back from being even better. The lack of one or two standout moments in this song cycle would elevate the album from a fan favorite to a potential genre classic!

If you hanker for the spirit of Hatfield and The North, these guys have picked up the reins and are running with them. Lovely stuff.

What a truly atounding album this is , i have had this album for 3 weeks now & can honestly say i havent stopped playing it (many times on repeat) its just that good from start to finish , not many bands i can think of get it 100 per cent right but i truly believe Sanguine Hum have on this one , i love dark atmospheric music & this has a beautiful atmospheric melancholy linking all the tracks together , its a real musical journey i love taking & i'd honestly put this in my all time top 10 progressive albums of all time & trust me i have heard a lot of albums in my time , hopefuly (& justifiably) this will propel Sanguine Hum into the big league because its a whole lot better than any recent progressive album i can think of , it truly is an incredible piece of work that leaves me awestruck every time i hear it regardless of its 85 minute running time , how they'll ever top this i dont know but i wouldnt bet against it.........

A lot of reviewers have already accurately designated this album as a 5 star release so I will give my agreement to this rating and add just a few thoughts of my own. I'd never heard of Sanguine Hum prior to seeing a review in the 'PROG' magazine for 'Now we have light'. Now having delved into youtube and tracked down snippets of their earlier work (and earlier incarnations) I can now conclude that they are a truly talented band. Joff Wilkins has a voice that really suits the music and the standard of all the playing is top notch. It's best just to pop the CD in and let the music wash over you. It really is a special sound. It's warm, clever & complicated but never over-indulgent or unnecessarily intrusive. The tunefulness always remains.If you want a few comparisons for their sound I would point to the 'Canterbury Sound' as a historical reference point (Hatfield & the North perhaps). However their structure at times reminds me of the more recent Kent-based band, Syd Arthur. I grew up liking jazz rock and I hear nods to Brand X and Bruford. The vocals a little reminiscent of Steven Wilson and Gabriel (circa Lamb lies down). Hope you get the picture, this is a band with a big future. I hope this provides the breakthrough. Another great release from Esoteric/Cherry Red Records.If you like this that it's worth heading into their past and seeking out their 'Live in America' or 'Weight of the World' CD's, or anything by Antique Seeking Nuns.

I only discovered this band a couple of weeks ago having heard one track being played on Philip Wilding's Prog Show. I've since bought everything I can find by them as well as a couple of things from earlier versions of the band (e.g. Antique Seeking Nuns) This is their third studio album (after "Diving Bell" and "The Weight of the World") and like their previous stuff it contains wonderfully clever, melodic and thought-provoking stuff. That they are four genius musicians in clear from the first track, but more important is what they do with these skills. Fantastic textures, mind-boggling lyrics and most importantly great tunes. Now We Have Light is in some ways an archetypical English prog concept album - a wonderfully daft "timey-wimey"story and instrumental interludes which splash colour all over everything. Buy the special version for some insight in how the band put together this excellent album. Who'd have thought that there would be two seminal British prog concept albums released within a few weeks of each other...

I enjoy music having unusual song structure, sometimes complicated, not able to predict in the first listen what the next phrase or part is gonna be, changes of key signatures, time signatures and tempo within the song. Having said that not all the progressive rock music appeal to me. I am a die hard fan of Dream Theater.I don't normally explore music of a new generation. But there is something in Sanguine Hum that made me love them straight. It is maybe the voice. Sweet and soft and soothing, perfect for their synthesised, ambient, guitar oriented, slow-mid tempo, jazzy, bluesy, rocky music. Before that, that cover art looking like Tom (Tom & Jerry) caught my attention in the first place. And here I am, at the moment of discovering the band in Amazon, ended up having ordered all three albums Diving Bell (2012), The Weight Of The World (2013) and Now We Have Light (2015) at once.All three albums are brilliantly written and performed. The band is made of extremely talented bunch of guys. Their music is mostly short and not boring at all. In my opinion, the second album is the best. Sanguine Hum just added to my favourite bands.\m/, Diving BellThe Weight Of The World

On the lookout for something “progressive” and a bit different I read various reviews, sampled some of the music on You Tube and decided to give this a shot. I am so pleased I did. A double cd concept piece of music with a running time of over 80 minutes it holds the interest of the listener throughout. Influences are the jazzier progressive style of Zappa and the “Canterbury” scene as other reviewers have mentioned, though the music is original. The concept itself is a bit strange but in a good way. With strong musicianship the album is melodic throughout and the vocals suit the music and mood perfectly. I also like the use of the vibraphone which adds to the bands different and unique sound. No need to pick out key tracks as the level of consistency is outstanding. I look forward to the sequel which I believe will be called “Now We Have Power”. This band is a breath of fresh air to the music scene.

My first dip into SH having heard a sample track on the recent Prog Rock mag CD. First thing that struck me was the similarity between Joff Winks voice and that of Joey Eppard of US rock band Three fame - uncanny.The album is refreshing in its newness whilst retaining several nods to past Prog. The concept album seems to have been a somewhat dirty phrase in more recent years but when you think of Lambs Lie Down, Snow Goose, Three Friends etc then you realise what a fantastic forum it is to create longstanding musical pieces. There are inevitably stronger tracks on the album hence only the 4 star rating but that does not detract from the quality of the album overall and the great melodies, words and musicianship throughout. If you want to hear something refreshing and new but are a trad Prog fan at heart, then this is one for you. Good look for the future SH , who appear to have partly adopted the fan-financing method of funding albums. Well I have spent my hard earned £ and wish them every success with future efforts and look forward to The Sequel!

Other reviewers have already gone into a lot of detail about why they love this. I would just like to say that the key point here is this band's sheer originality: difficult to achieve in today's current prog scene, and I wholeheartedly agree about the avoidance of stock library sounds, particularly in the keyboards, which definitely nod towards the Dave Stewart style, with bags of texture, dynamics and colour. The production of the CD is fantastic, too, with a great dynamic range, and no obvious compression. As to the concept, I might never look at my cats in the same way again..............A great record, recommended wholeheartedly.

I have seen Sanguine Hum referred to as "Post Prog" and this is not a bad description in that they have taken the genre to the next level, fit for the 21st century, but there are influences of an earlier nature evident in their material (Zappa/Canterbury scene). However, I am not too bothered about pigeon-holing music, particularly for such a unique and individual band - suffice to say they make outstanding music and this album is a great example of what they are capable of. "Out of Mind" for me is an example of the perfect song with showcases their ability to build up a big wall of sound, laced with haunting melodies and Joff Winks's great vocals. Common themes run throughout Sanguine Hum's material and this album is accompanied by a really entertaining narrative in the cover notes which almost convinced me to try buttering my cat! Don't take my word for it, listen to the samples and then buy this album - and while you are at it check out the other 3 albums too, if you want to hear the best that British prog has to offer. I just hope the lads are working on the next album already!

I can't resist a wacky concept album, but beyond the Pratchett/Adams whimsy of the supporting story, this is musically very very good indeed. Most Prog is what you could only describe as "investment music", takes a few listens to sink in, but this has an immediacy that grabs you from the outset and keeps you engaged, and you still feel that there's more to enjoy on repeated listening. It's got that immediate quality of 80s stuff like Pallas and Twelfth Night, (although sounds nothing like them or anyone else for that matter, apart from to my ear slight undertones of Permanent Waves era Rush).Otherwise, classic Prog elements all present and correct, soaring guitars, tricky time changes, bubbling analog synths. For a double album, no padding at all. Very highly recommended, another example of why the modern Prog scene is thriving and the most interesting and innovative music around.

I'm indebted to Spotify for finding these guys. Prog is my first love and I'm so impressed by the musicianship here. Wonderful, indeed quite beautiful. I hope they get more recognition and produce more memorable material. I'll probably buy all their CDs and if possible their live DVD.

Another Chapter from the Nuns! With every new recording this band grows...

SUPER

Excellent album by a very talented quartet

great modern progressive rock

loved it