When Pure Reason Revolution made an unexpected but very welcome return with 2020’s Eupnea, all eyes were on them to see what they’d do next. However, internal changes, personal grief and a case of writer’s block made the future seem less certain. New album Coming Up To Consciousness allays those fears with a selection of powerful new material and a modified line-up. Frontman Jon Courtney chats to Prog about finding inspiration during dark times, working with Guy Pratt and his renewed vigour for the band he founded at university.

Words: Rich Wilson Portrait: Valentin Ottone

There are some artists who provide a cerebral conversation, which renews our faith that musicians still exist who deserve more than fleeting attention. Pure Reason Revolution’s Jon Courtney is one of that pool. Perhaps as a result of the band releasing their last two albums in the relatively speedy period of two years, Courtney suffered an understandable, if frustrating, interlude of writer’s block. Assuming that this harmonic obstruction could be cured by sharpening his musical chops, he began concentrating on the more tedious aspects of musical theory.

“I spent a bit of time thinking that I really must improve my guitar and piano playing,” recalls Courtney from his Berlin home. “I started trying to get better with my music theory, thinking it would be helpful with the new compositions. But it didn’t really seem to help. My sight-reading improved a little bit, yet it didn’t broaden the chords I was going to and things like that. Then I had a couple of experiences, which weren’t super-positive ones.”

Those events Courtney references were the grief triggered by the loss of his 17-year-old and much-adored dog, and an unexpected brush with asbestos that generated an overwhelming fear of death. Such fears of impending doom and the death of a home-enhancing pet are feelings that many will be able to sympathetically relate to.