SACRED BABOON

If ever an album could be slotted into a category labeled 'Ultra Prog' then this would be it. From beginning to end this is simply an astounding recording. Fast, slow, hard, soft and even humorous at times, this offering from Yezda Urfa is a stunning achievement. Many before have rightly drawn parallels with other groups such as Gentle Giant but for me atleast, this recording is all the more listenable from start to finish than a fair portion of the GG material.

Although it's breathtakingly complex in it's structure, I found that this record succeeded in burning itself deep into my consciousness after only a few plays. As a consequence I can remember every passage as it happens. This has got to be a good sign in my book, although I'm wise enough to know that music like this will never be appreciated by the masses.

Wisely I think, any passages that verge on the confusing, do not last long. At times the pace is electrifying and on the first hearing I thought they were losing it in places. But no, on closer scrutiny, I think they managed to keep it together, just. No mean feat considering the speed of certain frantic sections! The singing is more often than not always in the Madrigal style like GG and is, like the music, there to keep you on your toes.

The nightmarish quality of To - Ta in the Moya is just spot on. Listening to certain sections it's hard not to conjure up images of restless bodies disturbed by unholy and wicked dreams. And, of course, Yezda jokingly almost, then go and hit you with something more upbeat which totally threw me before getting back to it.

The last song, for me at any rate, is the best of the bunch. Essentially an instrumental song, '3, Almost 4,6, Yea' speaks of something impending or grandiose about to happen and then cheekily signs off with 'nah nah 'n' nah nah'. Great stuff.

I must concur with those who finally released this until now un-issued album. I believe it was right to bring it out first and then produce the first album, Boris, at a later stage. Sacred Baboon is an electrified version of the former and, to my mind, a superior effort. Interest would not have been so lively had Boris seen the light of day first.

The Sacred Baboon album suffers slightly from being recorded 'back then' but I'm not going to hold it against the musicians when giving out marks. Recording technology wasn't quite as good as it is today.

There is a single mistake on the album, which in normal circumstances, would mean I should mark it down. Fortunately, somebody coughed over it and I didn't hear it. That means I have no alternative but to give this offering the full five stars. Superb!