ASYLUM

Let me stand up and declare: This is a true amazing album, perfectly suited for my 70s prog- nostalgic ears. I have heard them live, just a week ago and incredibly they're still as good as they were 1971. Asylum is Cressidas second and last studio record and features a new guitarist in John Culley, and as before Angus Cullen on vocals, guitar and percussion, Peter Jennings on organ and piano, Kevin McCarthy on bass and Iain Clark on drums and percussion. The cover picture is fun with many blank heads of whom one is burning. I don't agree to the common review "good, but non-essential". Well it doesn't seems to be essentiel but it could have been if it became more known. I warmly recommend you to listen to this record.

Since the debut Cressida here has perfected its sound to an artistic flower that shines through my loudspeakers directly against my soul. This music is so light and fair. They don't reflect themselves in hauteur, but they don't have to, their music speaks proudly enough. Some prog bands looses themselves in extravagant keyboard music where it's hard to regognize clear sounds but here we have the fantastic sound of organ and Jennings shows he's as good as Jon Lord, Tony Banks or Hugh Banton. Cullen's voice is so emotional, thank you for that and the band's wild progressivity plays around for us in incredible 41 minutes.

Everything here is amazing but if I shall pick favourites it'll be "Munich" and "Summer weekend of a life time". The least good song is "Reprieved". That is just very good and not marvelous.

I wrote warmly about Cressida's first record and did it honestly. That was a five star record as well as this, but I think I speak for more than me when I say this is the best of their efforts. Cressida made a development that is perceptible. But what a shame they didn't continue! Think about how it would have been with a ten-record discography! Perhaps I'll dream about their third record tonight.