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This project teams ReGenesis vocalist Tony Patterson with Brendan Eyre, keyboardist from neo-proggers Riversea.

Together they capitalise on a propensity for captivating keys, North East roots and shared compositional prowess. And it really works. Northlands is a class record, movingly atmospheric and imaginative. It skilfully mingles close-to-home themes with new age atmosphere and soaring contemporary progressive rock (with Steve Hackett and Nick Magnus aboard to boot). Some would quail at opening an album with a 24-minute song, but the stirring Northbound manages to be epic in a pleasingly intimate way: triumphant guitar hero solos (returning gloriously in the blissful So Long The Day), smooth synths, some fairground effects. Pastoral, very ‘British’ qualities lend a peaceful feel to softer moments, while slightly foreboding strings and choral hints add drama to A Picture In Time. Even jazzy piano and brass hints make their way in, on trip‑hoppy A Rainy Day On Dean Street. A lot happens, but it all feels natural. The closing seagull caws and lapping waves make for an understated end to a wonderful album.

Polly is deputy editor at Classic Rock magazine, where she writes and commissions regular pieces and longer reads (including new band coverage), and has interviewed rock's biggest and newest names. She also contributes to Louder, Prog and Metal Hammer and talks about songs on the 20 Minute Club podcast. Elsewhere she's had work published in The Musician, delicious. magazine and others, and written biographies for various album campaigns. In a previous life as a women's magazine junior she interviewed Tracey Emin and Lily James – and wangled Rival Sons into the arts pages. In her spare time she writes fiction and cooks.