Reviews

Intending to approach their album the same way in which classic vinyl prog releases used to be, Nine Stones Close have presented Traces as a fully fledged album that takes you on a journey through the five tracks on show, rewarding the listener through the musical and lyrical narrative which unfolds as you do so. Loss, growing up and getting older are the themes visited and while that may all sound a little pedestrian, the truth is that it is actually meant to be. The opening pairing of "Reality Check" and "Threads" make for fourteen minutes of introspective, melancholic music which slowly but surely begins to embed itself in your memory through its stark beauty and gentle pain. In fact it isn't until deep into the final song "Thicker Than Water" that NSC actually present us with what could actually be described as a riff, as up until that point the guitars wail in subdued loneliness, or strum acoustically. It all makes for an album that deserves, or more accurately demands your full attention to begin to unravel the moving and emotionally delivered music which has been crafted with deep integrity and thought.
www.seaoftranquility.org/reviews.php?op=showcontent&id=11611

Nine Stones Close’s debut on ProgRock Records is by far the band’s finest release. All of a sudden the band has reached whole another level of production and the concept behind the album seems more thought through. What we have here is collection of songs delivered by people who have been around for a while and who most defiantly have good playing skills. For the most part the music is very mellow and inspired by the likes of Pink Floyd and Marillion, but there is also place for some heavier parts, most noticeably in the highlight of the album, the epic closer “Thicker Than Water”. This almost 15 minute peace flows perfectly despite the changes in music and arrangements. This is most definitely their strongest song to date and very good representation of this bands talent. “Falling To Pieces” is another highlight and just fine, smooth ballad filled with emotions and some outstanding David Gilmour-like solos and guitar textures.
metal-revolution.com/plugins/content/content.php?content.3686

Nine Stones Close is a prog rock outfit hailing from Netherlands. The band released their debut album, “St. Lo” in 2008 (available from the website as a free download). “Traces” is the band’s sophomore release. It is a concept album depicting a journey through loss, moving on and growing older. While the subject choice may be a bit morbid, the music is not and one can sit back and enjoy the smooth flow in one sitting. Marc Aitkinson does a solid job on the vocals, not intruding on the music – which is the focus point. Adrian Jones (guitars, keys, programming) keeps the listener entertained with influences of Porcupine Tree and Pink Floyd shining through. If you’ve been missing new material from these two bands, you’re going to enjoy this. There are only five tracks (44 min in total), with the final track, “Thicker than water”, being 14 minutes long and broken up into four parts – by far the most progressive song on the album. A fine listen worthy of your attention.
www.getreadytorock.com

The mood of Nine Stones Close's second album Traces may give many a listener pause. This is a bleak album, rife with melancholy, moodiness, and sorrow. Promotional materials describe Traces as 'a journey through loss, growing up and getting older. Letting things go and learning how to move on. Asking questions that don't have immutable answers, telling stories that don't necessarily have happy endings. Coming to terms with things you can't change or control. Mood music not for elevators. Understanding that being alive sometimes means hurting ...' I'm not sure these are the words of founder Adrian Jones, who has had his share of tribulations, but the music certainly reflects the description. Pushing emotions through Porcupine Tree and Pink Floyd, and feeling, at times, nearly doomish, this is deep and somber music.
www.dangerdog.com/2011-music-reviews/nine-stones-close-traces-review.php

Nine Stones Close is a project of Adrian Jones (also Big Lie) releasing his second album Traces. His first album is of personal near death experience and is not a bad album. This however, is in performance, production and composition, much much better. With 5 tracks and under 50 minutes it's perhaps short. Cover is from Ed Unitsky who did also covers of The Flower Kings, The Tangent, Unitopia, guest-members are Marc Atkinson (Mandalaband, Riversea) vocals, Brendan Eyre (Riversea) keyboards and Neil Quarrell on bass.Adrian plays all guitars and drums. Further reference to this album are Big Big Train and Marillion Guitars of Adrian (Ade) Jones are excellent in acoustic, fingerpicking electric and out of your mind solo work in opening instrumental track Reality Check. Opening of,over 10 minutes track,Thread reminds me of the quiet pieces of Fates Warning 's classic A Pleasant Shade of Grey. The song builts up to an amazing guitarsolo of Ade.
proggnosis.com/PGRelease.asp?RID=33754

Where on earth does PROGROCK RECORDS find all these hidden Progrock gems? Besides the regular major progbands’ releases of RUSH, DREAM THEATER, SPOCK’S BEARD, TRANSATLANTIC and such, the most interesting progressive rockalbums are released through US label PROGROCK RECORDS. Most of them concern smaller bands and here and there even new acts whom deliver their first record. The UK based band NINE STONES CLOSE is making their debut on PROGROCK RECORDS with ‘Traces’, a very impressive Progressive Rockalbum that is actually their 3rd album already. It concerns a concept-story told in 5 songs, of which opener “Reality check” is the instrumental opener. The other 4 lengthy tracks feature the amazing passionate vocalwork of singer MARC ATKINSON, who has been in and out of bands for the past 30 years. He even went to secondary school with future MOSTLY AUTUMN members back in the late 1970 and eventually also sang backup-vocals for some time during the 2000s, although I do feel he now releases something he should be proud of, because this NINE STONES CLOSE album has the same high level as MOSTLY AUTUMN, although musically a little bit different. The music of Marc’s own band is calm, melodic and very relaxing, sorta laid-back with some really lovely guitarwork of the MARILLION kind and the already mentioned beautiful lead vocals are giving it a finishing touch. Highlight is the closing epic 15 minutes counting track “Thicker than water”, a real prog anthem! For a rather new band, yet with experienced musicians and also already 2 albums out before this new one, this is an exceptionally impressive album that will definitely appeal to any Progfan out there and I do feel this new CD of NINE STONES CLOSE might be the start of a long journey that will hopefully be continued with many more releases in the future!
strutter.8m.com/HOTNEWREVIEWS170.htm

As a package this is a nice album. Not uplifting in anyway, but that is no criticism. Without knowing about the dark message apparent behind these songs, it would be easy to describe them as morose. This is not the case and the more that you listen the more you get from it. I feel that sometimes it's ok to be a little on the gloomy side and to vent the mood and greyness that you may feel as an artiste or person. Good god, Pink Floyd made quite a healthy living from it. This is an album well worth seeking out. Basquing in some of Ed Unitsky's finest artwork and offering a refreshing alternative to orange coloured girls with boot brushes on their eyes murdering Motown songs on x-factor I would council that you throw caution to the wind and purchase a copy forthwith.
www.progmeister.com/reviews.php?year=2010&month=12

I always liked melancholia, as it's a crucial vehicle for the human experience which provides a binary dosage of sadness and hope. From Italian opera, Chicago blues, Portuguese fado, Celtic folk, Hungarian gypsy music and countless others, themes of despair can fuel the pen and the artistic fingers. Now melancholic does not mean depressed (that is an extreme) as it's not a pejorative term, it's simply an introspective journey into the realm of human emotion and how one deals with pain, tragedy and suffering. Sometimes, the results can be awe inspiring like the manner in which the Japanese people have been dealing with the earthquake/tsunami/nuclear leak. Grace under pressure, elegant respect for the departed, massive humility emanating from the survivors, are all held together by tears, sweat and blood. So how fitting that the first track is called "Reality Check"? A gentle acoustic guitar splashes gently across the airwaves, weaving its delicate web and waving the heavy rhythm guitars to crash on the breakers in thunderous succession. Then, as suddenly as the squalls began, the calm returns. "Threads" is simply put; a pure aural delight and the influences are obvious, deep felt personal pain obscured by clouds as vocalist Marc Atkinson cries out in anguish, a sorrowful tour de force as Adrian unleashes a shivering series of electric guitar solos, gliding among waves of choir mellotron and urgent organ courtesy of Brendan Eyre , a fret display that rekindles Andy Latimer's exalted solo on "Ice" as well as Gilmour's finest moments but it's the repeated and fragile vocal chorus that would make Steve Hogarth blush with utter jealousy that takes it all to such a lofty level. Phenomenal piece of music. "Falling to Pieces" is another stellar piece (no pun intended!) that features the quivering voice of Marc Atkinson (Mandalaband and Riversea) and the setting of a serene mood, flush with regret and despondency. The title track is more of the same, man this guy can sing! When Adrian slices through with another blistering axe ride , you kind of realize all the goose bumps are there for a reason. This is definitely atmospheric, comfortably numbing in a spiritual way, as one learns painfully how to deal with tragedy. "Thicker Than Water" is the extended epic, a nearly quarter of an hour of sonic bliss, the empathy theme recurring and reassuring amid a vast coalition of keyboard torrents such as e-pianos, organs, synthesizers and synth-strings, graced by the almost funky mid-section where whispered vocals, bluesy guitar noodlings and percussive boils conspire nicely. The aggrieved and repetitive "What happened to us" chorus introduces a raging guitar revelation, an explosive fury of dejection that soars, glides, screams and howls unrelenting. The melody veers into a little welcome weightiness as the rage is ratcheted up quite a notch, the drums pounding mercilessly. Tremendous stuff!
www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=6141

Closing off this amazing, emotional album is the epic, “Thicker Than Water” (14:57). The song while in long form is divided into four parts with the third part being the heaviest sounding on the entire album and one of my favorite parts. I purposely have refrained from revealing too much of the subject matter on this album. I did this primarily for those that don’t like read ‘spoilers’ in reviews. For those that were fortunate enough, also received a bonus disc entitled Re-Traced which features another look with song titles like “Innersense”, “Threads (Rewoven)”, “Traces (Reconstructed)”, “Thicker Than Water (Instrumental Mix)” and a secret track, “Threads (Short)”. These show another side, pardon the pun, which retraces some of the emotions. This has been one of the most enjoyable albums I’ve had the pleasure of listening to in 2010. Musically I hear influences of Porcupine Tree by way of Pink Floyd. I feel this album again has that ‘exorcists’ some sorrowful emotions throughout the album. Is there any resolution? I really don’t know. My verdict is two words, highly recommended. I should note that this album is a part of my Top 50 Favorite New releases of 2010.
www.prognaut.com/reviews/nsc2.html

Traces by Nine Stones Close is an album that grabbed me by the throat owing to a fantastic and tasteful guitar player and a super vocalist. It would be odd if this album doesn't end up in my personal top-10 for this year. Usually I'm pleased with heavy progressive music and guitar fusion, but this is an album that really got me. I think I have to listen to this kind of music more often...
www.backgroundmagazine.nl/QLinks/NineStonesCloseTraces.html

Interview with the band
www.wrinklyrockersclub.co.uk/Concept-Corner.html

Traces features a mere 5 tracks and yet contains about 45-minutes of music so right off you know there are some longer compositions. Everything gets underway with soft and tentatively at first, with “Reality Check” [4:55] where guitars are softly strumming a melody while the tension builds in the background, then about the two-minute mark the song morphs into huge crashing chords with a nice synth lead taking centre stage. Then as the song progresses the guitars become more prominent. All the while the scope of the song gets larger and larger until the four-minute mark where it all is pared back to the opening scarcity. After a short pause, the second track “Threads” [10:43] begins sounding very mid-period Pink Floyd, all mid-tempo and a bit downbeat. The vocals surface quickly and they’re soft and hesitant, poignant even as the music foments underneath. There’s a lot of mood in these pieces and they quickly turn into something akin to contemporary Marillion although it must be said the vocals here are more clearly perceived which to my ear is a good thing. The song slides effortlessly from one mood to another sometimes using the guitar solo as the transition point and other times the keyboards. It must be said that the overall feel of Traces is a subdued almost placid one. Out of nowhere searing guitar solos come to the fore in a very Dave Gilmour style. At the same time, the keyboards lay a nice wall of atmospherics behind everything supporting a melody that slides here and there. You are drawn into these compositions, drawn in completely.
www.jerrylucky.com/reviews%20k-o_055.htm