OLIAS OF SUNHILLOW

Jon Anderson first personal album named Olias of sunhillow is for sure a grower, at least for me. Issued in 1976 this album is a total winner in my opinion. Is an progressive epic album, a concept that is realy great made by Anderson, also you must have the vinyl or the CD the story is all there, no digital file alowed, to fully understand what is going on behind this mystycal story. The inner sleeves - gatefold are absolutly amazing, made by the David Fairbrother-Roe and is one of my fav drawings inside of an album ever. The story is quite a complex one and is about an alien race and their journey to a new world due to a catastrophe. Olias, the title character, is the chosen architect of the glider Moorglade, which will be used to fly his people to their new home. Ranyart is the navigator for the glider, and QoQuaq is the leader who unites the four tribes of Sunhillow to partake in the exodus. In few words this is the main story behind this album. Instristing. Now about the music. Well to me this album was definetly a grower over the years, first time I heard it in 1998, and was not very much of an intrest, realy, but after couple of listning few years later on with lyrics in front of me and gatefold images roling before my eyes something told me that will be a pleasent journey in the end, and finaly has a very good taste after so many tries. So, the music is very much a progressive, from symphonic touches, lush keybords, complex chants, choruses, great voice by Anderson, very diverse to a more Mike Oldfield meets Vangelis style, but fits very well in this context and story. The album is paced, no hurry moments, very pastoral, great atmosphere overall, everything is well done, nice and quite franckly said, some very intristing choruses, like on opening track, realy great. Some new age experimental moments here , synth are well composed here, very light in aproach but well made. All pieces stands as good towards great, all stands as an unit, no divided parts , the album has no fillers for sure. This must be one of the best solo albums of a member from Yes and for sure one of my fav fro progressive scene from that period. 4 stars easy, while is not a masterpiece in my opinion, Olias of sunhillow stands as one of the best album from the '70's progressive scene golden era.