John Holden - known for a sumptuous, richly-melodic form of prog - has released a charity album in support of research into low grade ovarian cancer at Edinburgh University. The 'friends' who each contribute a track are: Tiger Moth Tales; Mystery; Marc Atkinson; Joe Payne; Oliver Day; Band of Rain; & Lux Terminus.

The album begins with a glorious seven minute take on 'Northern Lights' (which is reprised, in a radio mix, at the end.) I greatly like Payne's work with the Enid, which has a certain spiritual beauty about it, but he's taken a different path now - a sort of strident symphonic pop, which is well represented here by a song called 'Love'. Atkinson's vocals were one of the highlights of the latter-day Mandalaband albums & he offers a lovely acoustic ballad here called 'Brave the Storm.' Holden's own contribution is, typically, gorgeous.

I am enjoying this collection of songs a lot ... & its in a very good cause. Available from Bandcamp.