The Red Masque ‎– Feathers For Flesh (2004, CD, Usa)

Philadelphia's The Red Masque are a gothic-colored collision of avant-prog and psychedelic influences. Their album Feathers For Flesh, is their most accomplished release to date, featuring an exponetial growth in both songwriting skill and studio proficiency.

This third album from Philadelphia quartest The Red Masque starts off just as you'd hope in a creaking forest haunted by the wraith-like vocal of Lynnette Shelley, which promises to shuffle around in the digital undergrowth for the next hour or so. Instead, all Prog hell breaks loose with doomy organ, Curved Air-style violin sawing and a full-on rock orchestra sliding effortlessly from movement to movement. 'Feathers for Flesh' has 'concept album' written all over it, as it veers from Tarkus-era Emerson Lake & Palmer, to Kate Bush's version of rock bombast, to fusion folk. This balancing act will leave most listeners screaming in anticipation for the grand finale. — Edwin Pouncey, Issue No. 248, The Wire.

Songs / Tracks Listing
1. House of Ash (12:07)
i) Corridors
ii) Judgement
iii) The King's Lament Pt. 1
iv) The King's Lament Pt. 2
2. Passage (14:12)
3. Yellow Are His Opening Eyes (14:47)
i) The Summoning
ii) Outscream
iii) Vacant
4. Beggars & Thieves (9:38)
5. Scarlet Experiment (3:46)

Line-up / Musicians
Kiarash Emami / electric and acoustic guitar, mandolin, keyboards, vocals
Lynnette Shelley / vocals, erhu, psaltery, pots, pans, slinky and other objects
Brandon Ross / bass, acoustic guitar, keyboards, vocals
Vonorn / drums, percussion, keyboards, theremin, electric guitar, bass, vocals
Guests:
Damian Boucher / violin (1)
Sue Wolfsong / vocals (5)