New Europe Rainbow Colours: A Wild Ride Through Prog and Beyond
Alright, buckle up. Nic Potter’s New Europe Rainbow Colours is one of those albums that doesn’t just sit in your playlist—it punches its way into your brain and refuses to leave. Released back in 2009 on Zomart Records, this UK-born beast blends rock, electronic vibes, prog wizardry, and even some New Age fluff. It’s like someone threw a bunch of genres into a blender and hit “puree.” And guess what? It kinda works.
Let’s get real for a sec. The album kicks off with "Transquility" (or "Tranquility," depending on how drunk you were reading the tracklist). This tune hits hard—not because it’s loud but because it sneaks up on you. You think it’s gonna be all floaty and chill, but then BAM, David Jackson's saxophone comes outta nowhere and smacks you upside the head. It’s smooth yet sharp, like a velvet-covered dagger. You remember this track because it keeps you guessing. Just when you think you’ve got it figured out, it twists again. Classic prog move, but damn if it ain’t effective.
Then there’s “Power of the Orient,” which sounds exactly like what you’d imagine from the title—big, bold, and dripping with attitude. Snowy White’s guitar work here is fire. Like, straight-up arson-level heat. Paired with Guy Evans’ drumming, this thing feels like riding a motorcycle through a thunderstorm. Chaotic? Sure. But also thrilling as hell. If you don’t feel your pulse quicken during this track, check your vitals—you might be dead.
The credits are stacked too. Duncan Browne lays down some killer acoustic lines on “Robbie’s Theme,” while Molly Duncan adds soulful sax breaks elsewhere. And let’s not forget Nic Potter himself—he wrote, produced, AND performed most of this madness. Dude clearly had something to prove, and he did it without holding back.
Now, here’s the kicker: Despite all the chaos, the album has moments where it slows down enough to let you breathe. Tracks like “Joys of Spring” and “Rain Forest Returns” bring a weird sense of calm after the storm. But honestly, they almost feel too mellow compared to the rest. Like, dude, we came for the wild ride, not the spa day.
So yeah, New Europe Rainbow Colours isn’t perfect. Some parts drag, others feel overly ambitious. But isn’t that what makes it so great? It’s messy, unpredictable, and unapologetically itself. Kinda like life, right?
And hey, here’s a random thought to end on: Listening to this album feels like eating an entire bag of sour gummy worms at once. Too much at times, sure, but holy crap, do you remember every single bite.
