HALF A MILLION HOURS SYMPHONY

AKROPOLIS were a five piece band out of Denmark releasing this sole album back in 1979. We get a singer playing rhythm guitar, plus we get bass, drums, keyboards and guitar. Have you noticed that Denmark is the home to lot of "characters"? Our own Guldbamsen is one of them, but what I love about these guys are that they put this hilarious picture of themselves on the album's cover, and then called it "Half A Million Hours Symphony". Come on this is too funny. And the fact that neither the cover picture or album's title have anything to do with the music makes this even more outrageous.

This is a concept album about a person's journey from birth to death. Six tracks and under 36 minutes. The vocals are my biggest issue. They aren't bad, I just don't like them. I found myself saying "interesting" a lot during the many listens which is a good thing. These guys had some good ideas, and this is very proggy. The two instrumentals that open and close the album are my favourites. They are also the two shortest tracks. It opens with "Overture" at 3 minutes and starting with spacey winds as thunder booms. Sounds like electronics before a medieval vibe takes over.

The closer "Death" at under 4 1/2 minutes is my favourite. Just more depth here with the bass standing out and a relaxed jazzy groove. So cool when they imitate a heart beat, and this goes on for a while, then suddenly the tension starts to rise before yup, you guessed it. Then the choir-like sounds end it. It's over. There's a funky sound to "Birth" as sounds cry out like a baby. Vocals are exposed here though when he comes in singing hard for the first time. The vocals also hurt the next one "Puberty" and "Adult Age". "Old Age" is actually pretty good(haha) but it doesn't save this from being a 3 star record by a long shot.

Take a look at that cover art people, drink it in.