Rob Harrison - 2026 - Overflow

(44:16; Rob Harrison)






















I long ago realised that when it comes to music I refuse to go with the flow, and instead of only listening to bands I am already aware of, I actively look for those which are fighting to be heard. Such is the case with Rob Harrison, as I saw a comment from him on Facebook which led me to making contact and I am now listening to his second album, which follows on from 2024’s ‘Explode My Head’. Rob is a multi-instrumentalist who is not only also co-founder of Z Machine but is also in Mascot Math and I must confess to having not heard anything by either of them, but I can see that based on this that needs to change.

Rob is a true multi-instrumentalist, providing guitars, bass, saxophones, flutes, recorders, synths and SFX and is also a good singer, providing all the vocals. However, he wisely recognises his own limitations and has brought in an excellent drummer in Eliseo Salverri; if only everyone recognised the need for a human in that seat as opposed to using technology. This is eclectic progressive rock yet somehow is also strangely commercial and contagious with a large dose of Cardiacs, some Gong, Gentle Giant, VDGG and other classic British influences resulting in an album which may dabble with some jazz rock fusion here and there, but the pronk more than balances it out. At times the sax is the most important musical lead, yet at others it is the guitar, one never knows where it is going to go next.

This is an album where each track is a favourite, but instrumental “Downstream” is probably the one which really stands out with its changes in tempos, time signatures and over the top complexities and intertwining threads which make it a delight throughout. Yet “Pools of Glass” which follows contains vocals and could almost be by a different band. “Band”, there is an important word, as this never sounds like a single person or project, but rather it appears to be a very tight unit formed by a group of musicians. I can only hope this gains the attention it deserves (released 1st May 2026) as this is thoroughly enjoyable and any proghead who wants their music to be complex and fun yet tight and uncompromising will get a great deal from it.  

Kev Rowland, June 2026

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/RobHarrisonMusic

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