Album Review: Retreat From Moscow - The World As We Knew It

Retreat From Moscow – The World As We Knew It
(Gravity Dream Music)

Originally formed in Cardiff in the late 1970s, the curiously named Retreat From Moscow became renowned for their live performances before disbanding in 1981. The band managed to release a single before going their separate ways, but otherwise the musical legacy of Retreat From Moscow had largely been relegated to the memories of those who had experienced the band first hand. That is until now.

Fast forward some 37 years later, and after floating the idea to record some of the material from their heyday, the band’s core members – Andrew Raymond, Greg Haver, Tony Lewis and John Harris – reunited in a studio in the Cotswolds in 2018 to revisit their old tracks, write some new material, and package it all together into an album. A staggering – and impressive – four decades after their demise Retreat From Moscow recently released their debut album ‘The World As We Knew It’. Considering the rather long time this album had been germinating, it is not entirely unexpected that this album offers a fascinating listening experience. Indeed, Retreat From Moscow appear to have been wholeheartedly embraced, and claimed, by the prog(ressive) rock genre and its enthusiastic aficionados.

Prog rock can be broadly defined as music characterised by classical influences, the use of synths, and/or compositions that far exceed the standard three to four minute duration. While Retreat From Moscow tick all of these boxes, ideally this album should not be pigeonholed to fit into the confines of one particular genre, as it is impressively broad in its scope, incorporating facets of indie and 70’s and 80’s inspired rock, along with elements of synth pop. It is a beautifully curated and crafted album, brimming with ardour, vivacity and melodic drama juxtaposed with moments of serenity.

Upon first listen two things become readily apparent; first, the lads quickly slipped back into synch with each other musically. Second, this album is an odyssey of epic proportions that requires multiple listens in order to even come close to fully appreciating its grandeur. ‘The World As We Knew It’ is a wonderfully polished collection of 11 tracks that forges an enthralling, and at times surprising, musical journey.

The album’s opening track and first single ‘The One You Left Behind’ is a sprawling and compelling eight-minute epic overflowing with heavy guitar riffs, soaring synths, and an incredibly dynamic rhythm section. Suffice to say there may be moments where the listener’s jaw drops with the wall of sound coming at them. Thematically, and lyrically, several tracks on the album include a re-telling of classical tales from a different perspective, in this case an account of the journey of Odysseus and the encounter with the Sirens from the point of view of one of the crew. The track is an odyssey in its own right; as the composition itself seems to emulate the crests and troughs of waves as the story unfolds. And just as the crescendo is reached, the tempo somewhat unexpectedly shifts, giving way to an almost ethereal conclusion (be sure to check out the stunning music video for this track created by Gramsci’s Paul McLaney).

The listener barely has time to pause for breath before riff-heavy, fast-paced second track ‘Radiation’ kicks in, again changing pace to a more classic, guitar based rock sound. Moving from a classical tale, ‘Radiation’ was inspired by the nuclear stand-off between the USA and Russia in the late 70’s. Yet despite having been written four decades ago, and touching on key events and issues of the era, these tracks haven’t aged, and this is by no means a ‘legacy album’. Rather, each and every track captures an enduring sound that is punctuated by moments of nostalgia, often through the inclusion of a number of diverse instrumentals (including some great guitar solos) which only further contribute to the richness of the album.

As a listener, one of the most enjoyable aspects of ‘The World As We Knew It’ are its unexpected twists and turns. Each and every track has its own distinct ‘feel’ and tells its own tale. The album’s longest track ‘Home’, which clocks in at 11 and a half minutes, tells the story of a soldier in World War I; a story that is not only told through the lyrics but also through the movements of the tracks. Harris’ vocals provide the perfect accompaniment; a vocal style that is well suited to the band’s form of musical storytelling. Subsequently, ‘The World As We Knew It’ flows easily between harder and softer moments almost seamlessly with ease; at no point does anything feel out of place.

The old cliché hold that good things take time; and this instance it certainly rings true. It may have taken 40 years to come to fruition, but ‘The World As We Knew It’ offers a thoroughly engaging and enjoyable listening experience that really needs to be heard to be believed. Turn it up to 11 for maximum effect.

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