Doug Melbourne was the founder member and keyboard player with tribute band ReGenesis. In recent years he and ReGenesis singer and multi-instrumentalist Tony Patterson formed a writing partnership and subsequently released three successful albums. 2026 sees the duo taking time out to recDougord solo albums. In Doug’s case his first. As you would imagine, playing early Genesis music is no mean feat and Doug’s chops have been nicely honed performing very complicated and lengthy keyboard excursions as well as some complex soloing. In addition to his musical career Doug has in the past experienced a spell of acting and also writing.
Lost And Found despite being a solo album “would not have been possible without the help of some extremely talented friends” Doug affirmed when he sent me the album to road test as it were. Doug’s wife Carrie Melbourne (Babylon Zoo/Mike Oldfield) vocals and backing vocals, ex band mate Nigel Appleton drums / backing vocals and guitar and Steve Anderson guitar on Five minute Romance. Nick Davis, renowned for his work with Prog giants Genesis and eighty’s stalwarts XTC advised with mixing and production of the album which will be available in June 2026. Of course the lions share of the instrumentation and singing is by Doug Melbourne himself.
What come across in spades here is the humour injected into many of the twelve tracks as well as the serious nature of Doug’s writing and playing. Of the twelve pieces on the album five are instrumental and for those who love keyboard orientated music like myself, they tick all the boxes. Don’t think that Doug Melbourne’s Prog credentials mean that Lost And Found is bound by the prerequisite ideal of being a concept album, heaven forbid. Instead it encompasses many aspects of his personal experiences of life as well as historical influences. As if such an album would need one, the smooth and ambient Overture kicks things off nicely.
Rich synthesiser along with an eerie lead synth motif sets a tranquil scene for a varied and omni directional musical experience. Given the overall view of the track titles and the nature of Doug Melbourne’s musical heritage it would be easy to think this was a concept album of old especially glancing at the track titles. You couldn’t be more wrong. Although some pieces here lend themselves easily to such categorisation I would say that it simply isn’t so.
The Arrival is a piece of music which is just so. The opening of this piece is very much a Celtic ilk and bearing all the hallmarks of Clannad and Capercaillie all thanks to Carrie Melbourne’s haunting voice. There is a wide open sound great depth to this song that captivates the listener leaving them wanting to hear more.
So as to knock the listener off kilter, the jazz/blues experimentation of Baby’s Back sends out a totally different vibe. As Doug Melbourne takes to the microphone with his best lounge lizard voice and sings about a guy dating a werewolf or vampire. Doug’s keyboard sounds are so good here which makes you realise that he isn’t taking himself too seriously. I left this song with a smile on my face and rightly so.
In contrast and in a true Progressive Rock tradition, Volar is a reference to Sillmarillion as part of the Lord Of The Rings stories and their likes. Very much folk inspired, I would describe this piece as majestic in its progression and needing one to pause for breath. A good time for an Intermssion! Yes indeed, a poignant break and the need for a little tranquillity and ethereal goodness. I found the overwhelming need to light a candle or involve myself in a Zen-like moment during this tracks tenure in my musical hemisphere. So short, yet so potent in an atmospheric way. From here we stride the abyss to perhaps the most important song artistically on the album.
You, a massive homage to bravery, honour, sacrifice and love. I did found myself totally immersed In this song. Carrie Melbourne’s voice travelled as it did in the previous song with grace and subtlety to the ears of this listener. Carrie’s contribution to the album can’t be over stated whether it is her lilting lead or haunting backing vocals or her guidance with the simple nuance of a song.
Something I do enjoy about the songs throughout the album is the varied styles and intensity. By this I mean that whilst some of them are very much of a serious nature, so it is with Doug’s sense of humour that a certain degree of levity is engaged. Such is the up tempo Five Minute Romance where the talents of drummer Nigel Appleton and guitarist Steve Anderson are employed. sounding very much like an early Asia tune the song is about a guy who sees a girl in a bar though nothing comes of it. Sound familiar? Steve Anderson’s guitar really does propel this song along with a tasty solo contrasting Doug Melbourne’s polite vocal delivery. A smile inducing piece along with a couple of other tunes on the album that allow Doug’s sense of humour to really shine through.
Back to more serious matters though. Perhaps the most Prog sounding piece here is The Departure. Entitled so for no other reason that Doug already had already written and included the piece The Arrival earlier. This is without doubt the most epic of all the five instrumental pieces throughout the album and does include some classical leanings. Orchestration and keyboard work are exemplary and something I feel that fans of Yes and Genesis will warm to in a big way.
Following such a large scale arrangement the title track Lost And Found is very much a dialled down affair by comparison. A thought provoking ballad with a piano intro that had me thinking that Robbie Williams was about to begin crooning. Not so, Doug’s gentle voice muses of the ageing process, death and the way that the world of our youth becomes erased over the course of time. A simple ballad yet well placed in the sequence of songs and music.
Continuing in a more serious vane is Arbella. A rather beautiful song with both grandeur and poise at its heart. For the final time on the album Carrie Melbourne’s pure voice is pressed into play to convey the tale of Lady Arbella Stuart, a legendary wild child and heir to the throne of England. The story is of a poet who falls in love with her, yet to this very day it remains a mystery as to who he was. Doug excels here with his synthesiser flourishes and powerful choral backdrop. Just as I thought the album may have peaked at this point along came Empires. The strongest song by far and very much the song of the day. Quite easily Doug Melbourne’s finest hour in many ways. Lyrically the song leans towards the political aspect of what is happening in the world and asks the question “why are we fighting”? The line “the world belongs to everyone” resonates highly and such a huge message to the world is delivered in such a subtle manner. Best describes as haunting I found myself returning to this track time and time again. The Mellotron towards the end of the song reminds all of Doug’s musical origins and as such regarded as a signature on such a musical document.
How to follow such an endeavour and complete your first solo project? Well, in this case it comes in the form of a short musical ditty about the trials and tribulations of getting your child off to sleep. Baby To Sleep is yet another smile inducing ode performed in a 1920’s/30’s skiffle style. Once again lightening the mood and demonstrating a lighter side of such a competent musician not taking himself too seriously. Lost And Found will be available via Bandcamp as a download and CD initially before hitting the main streaming platforms at a later date. Watch this space.
Image of Steve Anderson by Sally Newhouse.
