ILLUSIONS ON A DOUBLE DIMPLE

How would TRIUMVIRAT follow up after such a masterpiece like MEDITERRANEAN TALES?? ''not a problem!'' answers JURGEN FRITZ our keyboards wizard,''you know, i have accumulated a lot of ideas all these years and my creative juices are on steroids lately, so get ready for great things to come''. Not that he said that, but after listening to ILLUSIONS ON A DOUBLE DIMPLE, we can agree that this is a fine successor to their debut.

The line-up has been modified with the arrival of HELMUT KOLLEN in lieu of HANS PAPE on bass and vocals. And like another english bassist playing in a a successful trio band at the same time, he adds here and there some acoustic and guitar guitars, nicely enriching the sound in general. However, the new voice doesn't differ much from its predecessor as being kind of harsch and sometimes abrasive, yet sometimes tender and......poppy!!! But we are still not in the same league than with the original KING CRIMSON singer who was having a monumental carreer at the same time with his own keyboard wizard.

We have here, well in the tradition of the times 2 epics -around 22 mns long each- subdivised in 6 parts, very well in the symphonic prog style from the beginning of the 70s with bombastic keyboard eruptions , demential rythm section, sometimes over the top vocals, very melodic moments only destroyed by ensuing frenetic playing where everyone in the band is showcasing their own technical talents, our JURGEN FRITZ in the first place of course; but he is good! he is that good! There is nothing new he can learn from his successful peers in UK! He is on the same level than KE and RW, as flashy as grandiose, as pompous (as would say some nay-sayers) as them.This is a album of keyboard feast, an orgy of hammond, synth, grand piano and all other goodies.

There is not one side better then the other,imho .MISTER 10% is as powerful than the title track, as frenetic but also beneficies of some quiet acoustic passages that quiets down a little bit our palpitations. This is symphonic prog on high vitamines; the energy rarely stops; that's full speed organ driven prog.There is nothing dull and bland. The only low point is once again the backing vocals, not that vey nice for me, kind of harsh, but there are not too many of them to be heard.

I don't know what rating to give: a 4 or 5 stars, but i prefer the first album:MEDITERRANEAN TALES, so will be

4 STARS

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