RED QUEEN TO GRYPHON THREE

Gryphon

Prog Folk

4.15 | 741 ratings

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ZowieZiggy
Prog Reviewer

This is definitely the album from "Gryphon" to start (and end) with. Their first two albums were too much filled with medieval / renaissance music to please my ears.

On this "Red Queen To Gryphon Three", the mood is much more truly prog folk. Long compositions, use of electric instruments combined with lots of specific folk ones allow for an enjoyable trip. I particularly like "Opening Move" which holds lots of keyboards, a powerful intro, and delicate (almost classic) piano.

At times this track sounds as a good ISP piece of music; while the complexity of the song writing also leans towards the eclectic genre. The whole is rather melodic and during almost ten minutes it is only a pleasure for the ears (even if you are not too much addicted to classic prog folk music). There is even a quite dark section featuring some Crimson filiations. It is an excellent song indeed and a highlight.

There are lighter moments available as well on this "Red Queen". The intro for the second track for instance. It sounds more in the vein of their previous releases, but quite soon the band shows again their new facet and the complex elements prevail again but it is less obvious during "Second Spam" to be honest. The pure folk and old traditional music are setting the mood even if the closing section is almost wild!

After this short frenzy, the listener is plunged into a sweet acoustic intro during "Lament" which is the longest track of this all instrumental album. The atmosphere is very much "Trespass" oriented and later acoustic albums from Steve or Anthony are not far away.

This long track sounds as a collage of several shorter parts and it lacks a bit in uniformity. Synths part towards the end is definitely a fine moment as well. It is another highlight which is available for your listening on this website.

Some jazz feel is noticeable while the closing number is being played. This is well organized though and rather symphonic (jazz I mean). As usual, different themes are filling "Checkmate" and inevitably the renaissance (the period ? not the band) atmosphere is conveyed by the use of some fine crumhorn as well as other wind instruments.

In all, this is a good album which should please symphonic or even eclectic lovers as well (but to a moderate degree ? let's say three stars). Prog folk fans are right while they raise their ratings to four or even five stars. I would say seven out of ten and I will upgrade this work to four stars as to salute this huge improvement.

ZowieZiggy | 4/5 | 2011-9-24

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