Scott's Song by Song #80: Pattern-Seeking Animals - Grimalkin
Welcome to issue #80 of Scott’s Song By Song (#scottssongbysong).For more information about this series, click here:
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Today I have the pleasure of reviewing the sixth studio album from Pattern-Seeking Animals, “Grimalkin”. As you most likely know if you are reading this, this is a closely-related spin-off project of present and former members of Spock’s Beard, along with a close associate of that band. Singer/Guitarist Ted Leonard has been the singer of SB since approximately 2012, and Bassist Dave Meros has been with SB essentially since their beginnings in the early 90s. Drummer Jimmy Keegan played drums for SB first as a touring member starting in 2003, then a full member between 2013-2016. Finally, keyboardist/multi-instrumentalist/composer John Boegehold, has been a frequent writing collaborator of SB for decades, particularly following the 2003 departure of Neal Morse. I also reviewed PSA’s 2025 album “A Friend to All Creatures” (see the labels tab). The word “Grimalkin” emerged in the 16th century as a variant of “Greymalkin” meaning “Grey Cat”. The word was popularized by Shakespeare in “MacBeth”. I want to thank John Boegehold and Giant Electric Pea Records (the band’s label) for providing me with this advance review copy. The album is set for release on August 21, 2026. As always, however, this is a cold listen, and I will call it like I hear it.
Let’s go!
Track 1 - Maybe all a Dream (8:54)
After some “pick-up” notes from the guitar, bass and keyboards join in with a “wobbly” unsettling tone, which I am sure is intentional. A tympani roll brings in drum accents along with a synth riff. The band locks into a 7-4 groove by 1:30. Ted Leonard begins singing and the band provides wonderful backing vocals. I like the hand-claps in the mix at around the 3-minute mark. I am hearing some flute from time to time as well. This song has my head bouncing to the beat! The overall sound is full and warm, and the various parts are clear in my headphones. The tempo slows at around the 6-minute point, and new melodies begin. Acoustic guitar, piano, and the aforementioned flute take over, soon joined by mellotron. Ted, while best known as a singer, shows that he is no slouch on guitar as he takes a wonderful extended guitar solo. Things calm down at the end as the flute plays a trill to close-out this terrific opening song!
Track 2 - A Flower Yet to Grow (7:30)
A piano melody starts this one off. Then a drum fill leads the rest of the band in. I love Dave Meros’ bass tone here, and Bogehold has some unique keyboard tones. Jimmy Keegan's drums are solid and steady. Ted Leonard is underrated as a singer, and hits some nice high notes here. There is an instrumental break at a slower tempo where the drums lay out. They return and lead in the next segment of the song. At just after 4:30 there are some cool staccato phrases, eventually smoothed out by the mellotron. The guys give us a nice balance between traditional 70s prog sound and modern ones. Ted Leonard plays another great guitar solo, with a cool slightly crunchy Strat tone. The opening piano tones return to conclude the song; another awesome track!
Track 3 - Jade Sky (4:51)
John Bogehold is credited on the album with playing an instrument called a mandocello, and I believe it is on the introduction of this song. The sound has a mysterious feel about it. Dave Meros’ bass tone is massive! The song has a cinematic air about it, as if it came from a movie about a Saharan Desert adventure. The lyric “Take me far away” is the refrain and adds to the mystique. There is a violin on this track. The arrangement is fantastic! It may be a relatively shorter track, but it is just as strong as the two longer ones that precede it. Great song that is sure to become an earworm!
Track 4 - Things I Don’t Do (2:40)
And now we are on to the shortest track on the album. It begins with a slow piano part. Ted’s vocals are wistful as he sings of the things he no longer does after losing a loved one. There are female vocals on this one. I love the line “The things I don’t do still remind me of you”. File under bittersweet but beautiful.
Track 5 - Break Away (7:23)
The band comes in loud and strong at a moderate tempo in the big introduction to this one. A pulsing synth part accompanies the vocals which are strong and powerful. Ted Leonard sometimes reminds me of original Kansas singer, Steve Walsh as he does here. That is intended as a compliment as Walsh is one of my favorite singers. There is an interesting change as we hit the bridge. Leonard plays a nice melodic guitar solo following the bridge. The pulsing synth takes over at around 5 minutes in, and Meros gets a great bass feature. Bogehold takes the spotlight next with dramatic synth parts. Keegan has some fine drum fills as we make our way through an instrumental coda. Fantastic song!
Track 6 - Traveller on the Wrong Road Home (4:58)
A trumpet-like tone backed by electric piano and mellotron start us off, before Ted starts singing along with Meros’ bass line. This has a bit of a Mexican Mariachi band flavor to it. Just before the 2-minute mark, the music takes us down a new road, to play off of the song’s title. The Violin returns with sort of gypsy vibes. This one is also very cinematic. I love the backing vocal accents during the trumpet solo as we approach the ending. Super-cool and unique track!
Track 7 - Slowly Falls the Flying Man (8:34)
This begins like a renaissance ensemble with woodwind and harpsichord sounds. After the rock band kicks in, the two styles alternate in a wonderful way. At around 1:20 a recorder takes the spotlight and leads up to Leonard’s vocal entrance. I love how every track on this album has a unique flavor. Cool marching snare drum part from Keegan at around 2:50! This song just keeps unfolding new surprises as we enter an odd-metered instrumental break. The new proggy rhythm continues as harmony vocals come in. Wow! This is great prog! Bogehold has a wonderful synth feature at around the 5-minute point. A new part starts at around 6:30, and Keegan has a new marching-snare style part, along with a drum set part simultaneously. The instrumentation is dense, yet clear. Flutes and synth lines close it out in grand style.
Track 8 - I Dream the World (3:34)
Chime-like keyboards provide accompaniment for Ted as he begins singing, Then the full band kicks in to join him. Bogehold always comes up with unique and unusual keyboard tones, which I love. This one has a very catchy chorus. Somehow this sounds retro and futuristic at the same time! This relatively short track provides a wonderful finale to this incredible album!
OVERALL IMPRESSIONS:
As much as I enjoyed last year’s “A Friend to All Creatures”, giving it a 4.5 out of 5 stars, I think they’ve upped their game even more on this one. In fact, it has been an amazing year in the Spock’s Beard Family tree, going back to last November’s SB release “The Archaeoptimist”, which I rated a perfect 5/5, followed by Alan Morse’s great solo outing which I gave a 4.75 (and had the great pleasure of interviewing) and then his brother’s NMB album “L.I.F.T.” (4.5/5). This keeps up the streak with a 4.75. (I could also throw in the Big Big Train album on which former Spock’s Beardsman Nick D’Virgilio plays, “Woodcut” which is another 5/5). What a talented extended musical family these guys are. Highly recommended when it drops on August 21!
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Prog On!
Scott
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LINKS FOR LISTENING/Buying:
There is a music video for “Maybe All a Dream” here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtvseMWbKo4
Also one for “Traveller on the Wrong Road Home”:
https://youtu.be/AYdKh36Z7Jg?list=RDAYdKh36Z7Jg
The band’s website provides pre-ordering information links for the US and Europe (not sure about other areas):
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