IT’S hard to grasp the realisation that Bournemouth guitarist Carl Chamberlain’s literal and musical meeting of minds first took the stage as Eden five years ago.

A very experienced line-up of musicians arrived at a very experimental time, shook and surprised the gigging halls of the south of England with a collection of heartfelt tunes with twists of mirth, eccentricity and the sombre mixed together.

What is still striking is that the songs do not pull any punches, or intend to. Sometimes the listener is left wondering if the performers are really going to take them down the lyrical route they seem to be going and put on a happy face as a twist to the song.

The gig at the Blue Boar was no mere reunion, Carl saw it as more of a case of unfinished business with some of the songs that could have been taken a little further in their lifespan or maybe had a little more taken out of them. The harmonies were superb, with Toph and Andy watching each other closely and adding a smoothness underneath Carl’s lead vocal.

Eden were also joined by Julie Staines to duet on two new songs, Your Light Will Shine and Sad About Us, both fine examples of songwriting. To retain credibility for such a long time in music is no mean feat.

Martin Kitcher