After The Fire - 'Signs Of Change'

A grandiose collection of songs that any fan of late 70's Prog will revel in.

Now as somebody who has considerably more than a passing interest in Progressive Rock, I have to start this review by putting my cards on the table and admitting that I'd never heard of After The Fire until this Angel Air reissue of the band's self financed debut from 1978. As anyone who has come into contact with this band will undoubtedly know, my record collection has been a poorer place for that omission for all these years! (Agreed, Reviews Ed)



Going through line-up changes like there was no tomorrow, After The Fire had been on the go for five years before they took the (at the time) groundbreaking decision to finance and distribute their debut release. Back in those pre-internet days that meant cajoling people at gigs to place orders, or send off mail-order for the album, which the band would then send out. In all from start to finish it took almost a year for the 'Signs Of Change' album to end up in the fans hands, although I'm sure that anyone who had one of the 4000 records which were eventually pressed arrive at their home was more than satisfied with the results.

Made up of six songs, four of which verge into epic territory, the 'SoC' was incredibly Hammond and moog reliant, with those instruments only making way on the odd occasion for some tasty guitar work. However that doesn't stop 'Signs Of Change' from being a grandiose collection of songs that any fan of late 70's Prog (a bit like Uriah Heep with most of the guitars removed!) will revel in. Excellent liner notes courtesy of the band members and four fantastic early demo bonus tracks combine with the excellent album itself to create a package that is just too good to miss out on!

Steven Reid