Hats Off Gentlemen It's Adequate - 2025 - The Uncertainty Principle

(57:04; Glass Castle Recordings)

Track list:
1. Certainty 7:01
2. Everything Changed 4:09
3. The Ultraviolet Catastrophe 2:55
4. Copenhagen 5:15
5. Cause and Effect (But Not Necessarily in That Order) 5:58
6. The Uncertainty Principle 8:43
7. Inside the Atom 6:54
8. The Think Tank 3:57
9. One Word That Means the World (Arkhipov) 4:22
10. Between Two Worlds 4:17
11. Living with Uncertainty 3:33

Line-up:
Malcolm Galloway - vocals, guitars, keyboards, synthesizers, programming
Mark Gatland - bass, Chapman Stick, guitars, keyboards, synthesizers
with:
Kathryn Thomas - flute, vocals
Ethan Galloway - vocals


Prolusion.
UK band Hats Off Gentlemen It's Adequate has been releasing new material at a steady pace ever since their debut album "Invisible" appeared back in 2012, and along the way this venture has also doubled in it's core size from being a one man studio venture with guest musicians involved to having a stable core of two studio musicians. As well as a few more people obviously being involved whenever a live show is on the menu. In the early parts of 2025 the band released their eighth studio production "The Uncertainty Principle" through their own label Glass Castle Recordings.

Analysis.
Hats Off... have developed into quite the captivating creative unit as far as I'm concerned. It appears obvious that a lot of work has gone into developing the compositions on this latest album of theirs into a captivating and compelling experience, nicely balancing the use of adding a multitude of subtle additional elements with maintaining momentum, and adding a bit of groove and naturally captivating elements to the landscapes explored to boot.

At a core level one might define this album as a very fine example of neo-progressive rock. The flowing and dreamladen guitar solo runs are present, the verse parts tend to feature floating keyboard details adding a compelling mood and atmosphere and combine these with a gentler but still playful and lively light toned guitar presence, and vocalist Galloway has really mastered the art of delivering melodic vocals that adds a subtle and distinct emotional nerve to the proceedings to boot.

Driving bass lines are put to good use here, and a darker and at times gnarly variety of electric guitar comes into play here and there to add depth, darkness and a generally more intriguing undercurrent to some of these creations. A little bit of a hard rock vibe adds seasoning on a few tracks, and on the other side of the scale we also get playful, elegant and more quirky instrument details that take on more of a Crimsonian nature on a song such as 'Inside the Atom'. We also get what might be a subtle flirt with jazz elements at one point, while the concluding 'Living with Uncertainty' wouldn't have been too much out of place on a Gilmour-era Pink Floyd album with its elegant blues-tinged flow and feel.

With an impeccable mix and production as the icing on the cake, this is in my view at least a most solid creation that comes with a liberal array of minor moments of magic. A band in its creative prime, and long may they continue to stay in their prime.

Conclusion.
While there are numerous bands out there that explore both the atmospheric laden and the neo-progressive inspired varieties in the more accessible parts of the progressive rock legacy, there aren't all that many that explore such landscapes in a manner as intriguing as what Hats Off Gentlemen It's Adequate has been doing for the last few years. Those fond of well developed neo-progressive rock as well as the more melodic and accessible varieties of progressive rock in general should find this to be quite the enjoyable production, and in particular those who tend to be intrigued by the more sophisticated ventures into these landscapes.

Olav "Progmessor" Björnsen, March 2025

Links:
https://hatsoffgentlemen.com/