Cautionary Tales For the Brave

Cautionary Tales for the Brave, the debut EP by the U.K. prog-meets-punk-meets-metal band Pure Reason Revolution, falls far short of its apparent goal of resuscitating the brilliance of Pink Floyd for a new generation. But that's not to say it doesn't have a glimmering depth all its own. The four songs here don't stand as separate entities so much as bleed into one another with a trailblazing mash-up of energy and influences; despite dips into sunny pop and stormy rock, prog followers won't hesitate to usher Pure Reason Revolution into their camp based on the gorgeous spaciness of "In Aurelia." Metal devotees, meanwhile, will warm to the band based on the crashing, acid-laced noisiness of "The Bright Ambassadors of Morning," which also manages to sandwich in some bright synthy moments. PRR's players are lovable scamps -- they're determined to trot out something for everyone. That makes them an easy mark for purists, but it also makes them worth an extended listen; their all-over-the-map sound has a way of swinging doors wide and making dabblers out of doubters. ~ Tammy La Gorce