Reviews

I think I was a bit spoiled by the previous album Traces. In my opinion this was an incredible record. I could hardly believe that a successor would have the same impact as Traces. But after listening to One Eye On The Sunrise a number of times, I have to conclude that the new album is at least equal to Traces, even a bit better perhaps with its well-balanced songs and a band that sound as tight as can be. Hopefully Nine Stones Close will find a proper replacement for Marc Atkinson, who'll leave the band. There's still one last comment to make: I would like to give a big hand for the way this album has been mixed and produced!
www.backgroundmagazine.nl/CDReviews/NineStonesCloseOneEyeOnTheSunrise.html

It is a beautifully constructed album with the heavy epics counterbalanced by shorter less intensive passages. But it is bursting full of the essential elements which underline the best in prog - strong melodies, raw emotion and soundscapes in which to lose yourself albeit only for a transitionary period. The only quibble is the album sleeve which has some stunning illustrations by Antonio Seijas evoking the half-light of day/night. They would have been greatly enhanced by having all the album's lyrics imprinted across them to further add to the drama and experience. Apart from that, this is a late contender for a top ten album of 2012.
www.dprp.net/reviews/201305.php#ninestonesclose

I just received my package from Holland, the new shimmering release from Nine Stones Close as well as a personal message from Adrian Jones, a simple little gesture that showcases the class that will be expressed in musical form as I stick this one into the music machine. This band really knocked me sideways with their debut 'Traces' (for which Adrian kindly included the 'Retraced' bonus disc), a collection of emotionally dense progressive rock that featured sensational songs, impeccable playing as well as some of the most pained vocals ever. Needless to say, this sophomore effort will determine the mark Nine Stones Close may earn in the prog galaxy and the adding of bassist Peter Vink (formerly of Dutch legend Finch) as well as Pieter van Hoorn on drums, a former member of Knights Area certainly has set the bar at a very high level. Obviously, the rhythm section is solid as one could hope for. Lead vocalist Marc Atkinson has a style unique to his own, imagine a mix of Mark Hollis (Talk Talk) and Steve Hoggarth with lots of personal flourishes and you get the message. Keyboardist Brendan Eyre is a masterful coloring agent, using his various boards with delicate parsimony, ornate piano, crawling synth carpets and some brooding organ to fulfill the more masculine sections. Adrian is a superb guitarist with tons of flair and bravado, certainly moving away from overt comparisons to Latimer or Gilmour by injecting more organic sounds (acoustic guitar on the otherwise breathtaking 'Janus').
www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=39187