Reviews

Interview with Steve Harris
www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=82182

OK, time for a history lesson – so pay attention as I might ask questions later. Ark came into being in 1986 with Ant (vocals & flute), Pete Wheatley (lead guitar), Steve Harris (guitar synth), Steve's brother Andy Harris (bass) and Gary Davis (drums) – note no keyboards, somewhat unusual for a prog band. In 1988 Andy left and was replaced by John Jowitt (yes – that John Jowitt, now known for IQ, Arena, Jadis, Frost* etc). After a mini-album ‘The Dreams Of Mr Jones’ and the ‘New Scientist’ EP (both well worth searching out – they are currently stored with the rest of my vinyl but I do seem to recall a photo of Mr Jowitt with hair on one of them..) they toured with the likes of IQ before John left in 1990. The band kept working and released more material and gigged hard but by 1995 it was all over. Or was it? In 2009 Steve Harris got in touch with John and the idea came about of a new album highlighting the best of Ark combining old songs and new, and before they knew it there was virtually a full reunion as Tony and Peter jumped at the chance with the line-up completed this time with Darwin’s Radio drummer Tim Churchman. Now, I can hold my head up high and say that I was into Ark before John had joined IQ – and god knows how many years I have had the vinyl, but it is great to hear some of these songs again in a much cleaner setting. The production is all that one would expect from a release of 2010, but the music dates back to the time when neo-prog was covered by fanzines and spread by word of mouth – no internet back then. So is the music still relevant today? Hell yeah, this was a band that never got the acclaim that they deserved even within prog circles. For years they have been remembered not for songs such as “Gaia” and “New Scientist” but as the band that John was in before he became famous. Thankfully that wrong has now been corrected – Ark are back and I for one am truly thankful. Essential.
www.progrockrecords.com

The highlights come thick and fast, with "Coats Of Red", having the military feel that title suggests and bizarrely a riff that is strongly reminiscent of "Beat It" by Michael Jackson as well as a touch of New Model Army! It's a cracking call to arms, with the strident guitars being mirrored by the synths, however it is the way in which a sublimely restrained guitar solo and flute break are weaved into the mix that sets the aspirations arK apart. "New Scientist", which uses sound clips of young children going about their day to great effect, brings a more atmospheric side to proceedings and the spoken word section, which reminds of Fish at his enigmatic best, adds to the drama. A more simplistic outlook is shown on the beautifully melodic "Hagley", where flute often leads the music in a gently hypnotic manner that really shows the intricacies of arK in a way that much of the energetic prog here doesn't allow. Short revels in this setting, with one of his best vocals and the effect is to slowly ease you out of the every day and into a more serene place. There isn't a missed beat across the eleven songs on Wild Untamed Imaginings and considering the age of some of these compositions, arK sounds amazingly, fresh, vibrant and relevant. I'm delighted to say that arK aren't resting on their laurels with this album, as they have stated that writing new material is next on the agenda, personally I'm looking forward to hearing it already!
www.seaoftranquility.org/reviews.php?op=showcontent&id=9956

Here's a hidden Gem of an album, Broadly speaking it only just scrapes into the "Prog" category as the songs are shorter and not overly complicated. The songs are all self contained stories & vignettes. Stand outs include the day trip to the beach of Boudicaas Chariot, the disturbing little tale of New Scientist and the closing track Nowheres Ark. Ant Shorts vocals are distinctive and fit the music well. The playing tight and focused and the production is excellent. Well worth checking out if you like the poppier output of the Neo Prog bands of the 80's (Pendragons Kowtow, IQs Nomzamo & Are you sitting spring to mind).
www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=348464

Interview with John Jowitt
www.backgroundmagazine.nl/QLinks/InterviewJowitt.html

The last time we heard from Ark, or should I say arK, it was 1992. Yup, it's eighteen years since"Spiritual Physics" was released, but we've heard plenty of music from bassman John Jowitt since then, as he's also popped up in IQ, Jadis, Frost* and Arena. But now he's resurrected arK for an album of hard rocking, prog tinged tunes. Because it does rock very hard for a prog album, but without tipping over into metal. A tricky balancing act, but one well managed. Fans of his other bands will find some familiar territory here, but with more than a couple of surprises. Unlike some resurrections, they've got a quorum of original members. As well as Jowitt, the band now features original members Tony Short on vocals and flute, Pete Wheatley - lead guitar, Steve Harris - guitar synth, and new member Tim Churchman (formerly of Darwin's Radio) on drums. The band say that this is a collection of story based songs. "From the adventure of a child's mind at the excitement of going on holiday, to a chance meeting full of possibilities that can never be anything more, from ordinary people caught in an extraordinary conflict to what might lurk behind those suburban net curtains, to leaving the earth to escape man made destruction, each song tells a different tale." As it was in the days of yore, arK stand out due to a lack of keyboards, something rare in a prog band, relying instead on a guitar synth, something that keeps their sound unique and rooted in rock. Add in a flute and you've got a mighty fine mix. There are plenty of memorable tunes for them to shine on, and none more so than the hard, agressive opener 'Boudicca's Chariot'. It's a good statement of intent for what is to follow, and has a melody that sticks to you like fudge in a heatwave. Elsewhere, songs like 'Gaia', 'Kaleidoscope' and 'Eighth Deadly Sin' are chock full of excellent musicianship and memorable hooks, but with enough twists and turns to keep the more ardent progsters happy. Add is some top qulity guitar solos and this turns out to be a highly enjoyable if unexpected return.
www.the-rocker.co.uk

Wild Untamed Imaginings features 11 tracks with nothing much over the 5-minute mark making these compact compositions that feature a well constructed heavy rock style not dissimilar to bands such as Magnum, Nighwing, or other such pomp rock bands. The progressive rock embellishments are sprinkled throughout; some sound effects here, dramatic crescendos there, a dose of dramatic tension, then a slight shift in time and tempo, but those creative elements take a back seat to the band’s more straight forward heavy rock approach. Their original distinctive sounds; namely their use of flute and guitar synths are very much present and go a long way to provide a defining and unique flavour. The compositions are essentially song driven, revolving around the core melodies and the band do manage to write some pretty catchy and hummable tunes such as “Flagday” [3:27] which even features more than a hint of Mellotron strings and choirs along with flute. One of the more proggy tunes is “New Scientist” [5:47], the longest of the bunch, but here too is a tune that stays pretty true to its melody line.
jerrylucky.com/reviews%20a-e_052.htm

As well as being a line from the song 'New Scientist', 'Wild Untamed Imaginings' is an apt title for this collection of story based songs. From the adventure of a child's mind at the excitement of going on holiday, to a chance meeting full of possibilities that can never be anything more, from ordinary people caught in an extraordinary conflict to what might lurk behind those suburban net curtains, to leaving the earth to escape man made destruction, each song tells a different tale. Mixing folk, hard and progressive rock to evoke the storylines, arK's unique line-up, including flute and guitar synth rather than a keyboard player, which gives the band a signature sound all of their own, yet distinctly English...
harmoniclizard.com/?q=node%2F70

...The art of great song writing, with meaningful lyrics and great tunes, played by really talented people is alive and well. Across eleven songs, none of them over five and three quarter minutes, Ark demonstrate amazing competence across the neo-prog, folk prog and the out and out rock spectrum. This is sing out loud, incredibly tuneful neo-prog. No song ever outstays its welcome, there’s no filler and you’re always left wanting a little bit more, whether that’s on a song-by-song basis or as regards the album as a whole. A welcome, and heartily recommended return, then, for an excellent band. The album cover art, by Antonio Seijas. Responsible for Gazpacho’s Firebird, Night and Tick Tock, he also provided the artwork for Marillion's double album Happiness Is The Road, including the deluxe edition, with two booklets of almost 100 pages of illustrations. He has also has worked on the Steve Rothery and Hannah Stobart project The Wishing Tree and their album Ostara. Needless to say, it’s excellent. The sound, as befits a ProgRock Records release, is similarly spot-on.
www.dprp.net/reviews/201052.php#ark

Even though Ark features John Jowitt, well known for his membership of Neo Prog bands (IQ,Arena, Frost), there is not much Neo to be found in Ark's Wild Untamed Imaginings. What this album features are a collection of 4 to 5 minute tracks that seem to come directly from the seventies. Bands like Deep Purple, Uriah Heep and even Iron Maden come to my mind. Some nice vintage hard rock and a few ballads is how I would describe Wild Untamed Imaginings. Nice stuff, well written and performed. Well worth putting out a few bucks is you are into that genre. Check their music on the band's Myspace page.
www.proggnosis.com/PGRelease.asp?RID=31834

After an 18 year hiatus, arK (they spell the name that way as to not to get confused with the band Ark!), return with the album Wild Untamed Imaginings. When listening to arK, they bring to mind bands like Praying Mantis, Genesis, Yes, Marillion, Jethro Tull and Pink Floyd, they seem to have tapped into that same classic prog rock vein. This album is very varied, so you should always expect the unexpected, one song can be driven along by the guitars, the next by a flute, the next its the vocals that keep you hooked, every track offers up something different and new. Fans of classic prog rock will love this cd, if you dont like your prog rock then avoid arK like the plague! A good solid prog rock album!
www.glitzine.net/recensioner/ark_wilduntamedimaginings.htm

This new release is actually from an old band reunited, but probably one that most folks aren't familiar with. Formed in 1985, arK's original run went through 1995. Now they're back, and it's a welcome return. arK's music is an interesting blend of folk, rock, progressive rock and other influences. The sound is decidedly old-school; with singer Tony Short 's flute playing, and a mix that would sound at home on a 1970s LP, arK's CD harkens back nicely to the days of 8-tracks and cassettes. Surprisingly, there's modern technology at work here: It may sound like Steve Harris is providing keyboard tones, but he's playing them through a guitar synth setup. The band's noteworthy for the presence of bassist John Jowitt , who, it seems, has been in every prog-rock band Britain's produced since in the past three decades. Short is not the most polished singer - he'd never make it to Hollywood on "Idol" - but he's ideal for arK's strong song structures and spirited musicianship. Clever story-oriented lyrics and excellent cover art make this a very worthwhile purchase.
www.e-gear.com/article/ark-british-prog-band-john-jowitt/1#utm_source=e-gear.com&utm_medium=article_page&utm_campaign=related-content-block

...The songs themselves are anything but one dimensional, with all the prog trappings we’ve come to expect – fantastic keyboard work, time changes, poignant and impressive guitar solos and intricate musical and lyrical themes present and correct. However arK are not afraid to add a little something extra to make them stand out from the crowd. “Coats Of Red”, has a military march that sets the scene for the war stories lyrics, but somehow I can’t help but be reminded of New Model Army, in the punky delivery that somehow remains decidedly progressive (and the riff is actually reminiscent of Micheal Jackson’s “Beat It”!). Then add some stupendously melodic keyboards, flute and Jowitt’s roaming bass and you are left with a mixture that really shouldn’t work, but does quite spectacularly. Taking an abrupt about turn, “Flagday” is one of the most overtly folk styled tracks on the album, with acoustic guitar and flute taking centre stage. The change of pace is quite startling, but expertly handled by the whole band. Next up is “New Scientist” which has added atmosphere by having some great samples of children playing and singing throughout, but it is the noises of a jacket being zipped up and other more unusual sounds that interject into a song that could easily have come from Peter Gabriel, or even Kate Bush, that really adds an extra dimension. The fierce attacking approach is in evidence again and the keyboards are majestic once more. Prog really shouldn’t be so ferocious as this, but with Jowitt and Churchman holding things together with a casual expertise, the balance between rawness and precision is maintained and the album is all the better for it...
metalperspective.com/latest-reviews.html?sobi2Task=sobi2Details&______catid=4&sobi2Id=102

Grab yourself a pot of tea and some toasted crumpets, because things are about to get peculiarly English. Originally formed in 1985, the newly retitled and reformed arK offer a very traditional take on the latest progressive rock sounds. Wild Untamed Imaginings' artwork may suggest Floydian leanings, but the music draws more on recent Uriah Heep paired with Peter Gabriel-era Genesis in the storytelling, whimsical lyrics...There's no way to fault the detailed musicianship and fine blend of melodies and styles, and it does bridge a gap in the 'accessible prog' section of the modern music market. Some traditionalists may find parts of the album too derivative and unoriginal, but the overall effect is beautifully put-together and is a joy to listen to for even the casual prog or hard rock enthusiast.
www.roomthirteen.com/cd_reviews/11364/Ark__Wild_Untamed_Imaginings.html