This three track release from British art/prog rockers Hats Off Gentlemen It’s Adequate is the follow up to their 2014 single ‘One Word That Means The World (Arkhipov)’ – an excellent, complex number – and a precursor to their planned full length release ‘The Uncertainty Principle’. It should not be considered a mere stop-gap, however, since the three tracks play very well as a stand-alone listen, and each one showcases a different aspect of the Hats Off sound, making it feel very much like a legitimate project in its own right.
The lead number, ‘Between Two Worlds’ is the most accessible of the trio of tunes, since it eschews the weirder aspects of the Hats’ art/prog/jazz blend in favour of a soft melody. Against a gently approached electric piano, a hushed voice takes centre stage. The chords emerge slowly, but their mellow tones lend a warm feel. The quieter aspects of the recording invite their audience to listen more closely, and by doing so, you’ll hear something wonderful unfolding. The unhurried melody calls back to the mournful elements of The Blue Nile’s masterpiece ‘Hats’ and specifically tracks like ‘Let’s Go Out Tonight’, but with a more natural tone replacing the world of 80s keys and synthesized drums, it plays far more smoothly. Against the unassuming keys, Malcolm Galloway’s voice takes on an almost sad tone, but this is perfect for the lyric in hand, exploring a feeling of uncertainty in the mind of a man waiting on the results of an MRI scan. Almost every syllable is layered in unease, from the moment he confesses he’s “worn down”, but the way he shares his feeling of wanting “to honestly say [he’s] fine” but “not wanting to leave” during the final moments of the song is a real gut-wrencher. It’s a genuine plea, and the fact that the band have chosen to share such feelings against a stripped down and stark backdrop as opposed to the more typical prog rock grandiosity makes the sentiment so much more effective. This has the potential to be one of the greatest Hats Off tracks to date, but If you’ve somehow arrived here looking for an uplifting glimpse of where the duo are at, as 2025 gains momentum, it – at least at first – seems you’ve come to the wrong place.
That low key – yet strangely beautiful – beginning is counterbalanced by the exclusive ‘Helioland’, where the multi instrumentalists really cut loose. A wash of synths introduces the number, and a defiantly Floyd-like guitar sweeps across the gentle drone, with a huge influence from David Gilmour’s work, circa 1987. With the audience pulled in, things take a dramatic turn, and jazz-prog influenced drums and keys throw out a busy, almost mechanical melody, with a huge influence from peak Gentle Giant. Eventually, the two contrasting elements come together, and a bluesy toned lead guitar fills plenty of melodic space between the harder edges, until the drums build an even more rigid backdrop and everything sounds like a jam between an early 80s neo-prog act and Curved Air’s Francis Monkman. Those wanting an easily accessible melody will be left wanting, but the more adventurous prog fan will find something of massive interest here.
Rounding out the EP, a live version of fan favourite ‘Imtiredandeverythinghurts’ captures most of the Hats’ best traits in a busy workout. The rawer sound of the recording brings out some really rocky guitars and also pushes the drums further forward in the mix, but without sacrificing too much of the band’s layered sound. Something that really comes across on this track, however – whether intentionally or not – is how much of a debt the performance owes Pallas with its nods to new wave and post-rock as well as the usual proggy touchstones. Whether you’re a long term fan or arriving into the Hats Off universe with relatively new ears, this is definitely the kind of recording that shows off a band who are keener than most to break down musical barriers.
From gentle piano motifs to massive rock riffs, via weird off-kilter rhythms and some timeless prog rock guitar work, it’s surprising how much variety has been squeezed into a little under eleven minutes. With three tracks conveying three very different moods, this EP is a more than effective showcase in almost every respect…and it’s likely that Hats Off Gentlemen It’s Adequate know it.
February 2025