ILLUSIONS ON A DOUBLE DIMPLE

Considering that this band is known as the "German ELP" I really had no desire to check them out. I love ELP's debut but it's the only ELP album I still listen to. Well thanks to Todd I made the plunge and boy am I glad I did.This album is better than anything by ELP except for their debut in my opinion. We get two side long tracks both over 20 minutes full of proggy goodness. I suppose keyboardist extraordinaire Jurgen Fritz is the main reason for the ELP comparisons and he doesn't disappoint. This bottom line though is that this album is full of well thought-out melodies that are very enjoyable and challenging. On a side note my wife and daughter have been going through the "Gilmore Girls" seasons (they're on season 5 right now) the last 6 months or so, and it's hard to avoid it when it's on all the time. Anyway I almost choked on my supper the other night when this character Daniel says in the show that he's a closet Progressive music fan, and that he's into GENTLE GIANT, VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR and TRIUMVIRAT.

"Illusions On A Double Dimple" opens with beautiful piano melodies as reserved vocals join in. The vocals stop as the tempo picks up and it soon becomes a powerful soundscape with organ. It settles some when the vocals return. Great sound here. Piano, synths and drums lead after 4 1/2 minutes as we get this long instrumental section right through to the 11 minute mark. Some incredible stuff here. Spoken words then vocals after 11 minutes. A change 13 minutes in to a brighter sound with vocals. Another change 15 1/2 minutes in to a more urgent sound before returning to that bright, melodic soundscape. Some nice chunky bass too. Hey a cow bell 20 minutes in and some killer organ late.

"Mister Ten Percent" opens with piano but bass and drums take over quickly. The tempo keeps shifting back and forth. The organ 2 1/2 minutes in comes and goes. Piano only before 3 1/2 minutes then we get theatrical vocals after 4 minutes. Sax 5 1/2 minutes. Then this instrumental section kicks in that's so impressive just like the first track. This one lasts until after 12 minutes when the vocals return. This section with vocals is so uplifting. Chunky bass after 14 1/2 minutes as the organ, synths and drums also stand out. Organ and drums then lead before 17 minutes. Huge bass lines return then the vocals as well later on.

Nothing less than 4 stars will do. Great album.