BETWEEN FLESH AND DIVINE

Asia Minor´s second CD is a great leap forward in terms of quality when compared to their first one, Crossing The Line, released in 1979. What was promising then was now a real excellent symphonic prog work. Although the record is a bit too short (only 35 minutes of running time) it contains probably the best prog stuff ever released by any band in the early 80´s. The music here is simply gorgeous and has nothing of the the group´s sometimes hesitant tunes on their debut. The songs are stronger, the playing is more confident and even Eril Tekeli´s flute playing is more fluid and personal than before.

It is ok that the eastern elements (brought in by the duo of turkish songwriters), so much evident on Crossing the Line, are all but subdue here, but still the result is beautiful and quite their own. Great analog keyboards lines, very good guitar parts and a creative drummer. Vocals are only average, but sounds good to me. There are no fillers and the production is very good for the time. Asia Minor certainly deserved a better luck, but I guess the timing was not right for a group like this. The prog world lost a very good band when they broke up. I wonder if this France based outfit would return one day and bring us another fine piece of art like Between Flesh And Divine.

A must have for any prog lover, especially if you´re into melodic symphonic progressive music of the 70´s.