REFUGEE

Refugee formed by the former bass player and former drummer at NICE teamed up with Swiss keyboard player Patrick Moraz. Their only album released in 1974, REFUGEE is one of these "must have" albums, if you really like the progressive rock genre. That is, prog rock with massive keyboards and based on classical themes. Overall, the album displays huge musicianship and talent, lots of interresting keyboard playing and a fenomenal back up by Lee and Davison. The vocals are a bit "off" but still in the context of the music. The opening of the album with Papillion is a piece played in fast tempo based on the same themes as Gaillarde (Trace - Trace 1973) with bits and pieces from "The Flight of The Bumblebee". The album moves into "Someday" which is a more rock song with vocals, great drumming on this track. The third track is "Grand Canyon" which is a suite running 16 minutes plus. I'd call this tune a true prog rock masterpiece. "Ritt Mickley" is a more jazz inspired tune and exposes lots of great bass and drumming. The last tune is "credo" another suite played in pure Keith Emerson style, mixing classics and pieces of jazz. Expetional piano playing by Moraz. The ound of mellotrons and Church Organs fits perfectly with the progression of the song and makes quite a closing of a great prog rock album. Again, for those familiar with Triumvirat, Trace, and ELP; Refugee is an album much worth having. In one way I feel that if Moraz hadnt left Refugee to join Yes on Relayer, we'd have had some more great albums by this band.