{"id":8856,"date":"2022-11-22T10:56:25","date_gmt":"2022-11-22T09:56:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kessel-tamerus.nl\/Esthers_Blog\/?p=8856"},"modified":"2025-11-30T11:49:30","modified_gmt":"2025-11-30T10:49:30","slug":"duncan-parsons-on-earth-as-it-is","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kessel-tamerus.nl\/Esthers_Blog\/cd-recensie\/duncan-parsons-on-earth-as-it-is\/","title":{"rendered":"Duncan Parsons \u2013 On Earth, As It Is"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Multi-instrumentalist Duncan Parsons is known, among other reasons, as a drummer in the John Hackett Band. ‘On Earth, As It Is’ is Duncan’s sixth album. The songs discuss such topics as forgiveness, responsibility and temptation. Music styles include minimalist, folk, fusion and rock. Several guest musicians participate, including John Helliwell ( (Supertramp) and Dave Bainbridge (Iona).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘Heaven’ starts with the sound of a little bell and then “Hello.” If you have the volume on low, you can barely hear it. The soft music matches this lovely. After a rest, a special twist follows. The repeating keyboard sounds remain, even after another change. You hear the pitch differences of the drum kit well. The turns keep coming, always there is a nice melange and\/or alternation of the different instruments. Like bass, keyboards, violin, viola, flute and saxophone. Despite all these differences, it does feel like a whole. The first vocal is after about 7:40 minutes, the emotion on the voice is well heard. The wordless (stacked) vocals are as minimalistic as the music. Less is more definitely applies here. There are a number of repetitions, yet there are subtle changes. Everything continues to captivate me, over and over again. When beautiful, warm guitar playing is added, the wordless vocals can still be heard in the background. There are subtle changes and countless details in the music, each time you hear something new. The turn to more pace and volume is somewhat unexpected, but the balance remains. This intriguing opening track ends with a very slow fade out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All the songs are complex but captivating. I discuss them very briefly: In ‘This Day,’, words are half sung, half spoken. Vocal parts are interspersed with extended instrumental pieces. String instruments and piano form an unusual interplay in ‘Fissures Of Men.’ The vocals in ‘FinishLine’ briefly become grim. That a subdued acoustic song can be surprising is proven by ‘Unnecessary Kindness.’ In ‘Three Sixteen’ cool bass playing forms a nice contrast with the high notes. The sound of a steam train returns at the end, this is nicely incorporated into the headphones. Rhythm and melody of ‘Lead Us Not’ give a slight, summer atmosphere, and is therefore perhaps the most accessible song. In the short ‘Fissures Of Men (reprise),’ the good sound quality once again stands out. As a result, both the bright violin playing, and the somber sounds come out beautifully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also interpret the lyrics of ‘Valediction (Power And Glory)’ in several ways. It could be about a relationship. And question whether the other party is really invested in it, with the questions gradually becoming more insistent. After a subdued part, there is a musical calm. In a shriek sounds pain, despair. After a beautifully extended instrumental piece, this last song slowly extinguishes. At the end, you hear a telephone “ringing” (again).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vocals and music constantly form a unity. The sound is very good and, moreover, nicely spread over the headphones. Because of the great contrast in volume, sometimes it takes a while to find the right loudness, especially when listening with headphones. There are numerous changes, not only in volume and rhythm, but also in styles. Each time you discover something new, such as musical rests, sampling and details. Regularly there are many layers, even in the subdued parts. Non-Christians will probably not even notice that the Lord’s Prayer is the foundation of the album, as some of the words used (such as shepherd) have multiple meanings. Moreover, everything does not sound churchy. ‘On Earth, As It Is’ is a fantastic album, and also includes some improvisations. In short: this is a must have for the lover of complex prog.rock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(98\/100) (Own Management)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Social media<\/strong>:
Facebook: Duncan Parsons<\/a>
Bandcamp: Duncan Parsons<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

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