KING LAURIN AND HIS ROSEGARDEN

If you are constantly on the look out for that rare hidden gem , here is a mesmerizing concept album by the relatively unknown Germanic progmeisters from Tyrol, Italy. This is an imposingly exhaustive story with lots of narration (not always a good sign yet critical here), a teutonic fairy tale about a dwarf king of unusual cruelty and the enchanted rosegarden that was his rather selfish pride and joy. The musical envelope is compelling, gushing forth effortlessly with all players ebuliently inspired, no instrument trying to dominate the other, all tuned into creating a cohesive story. Starting off with a 20 minute suite takes a lot of audacity, dive bombing straight into the saga of the mad king Laurin but the next piece the "Rosegarden" is the killer cut here, (Woe be to You) offering up a canvas very reminiscent of a harder edged Floyd both in spirit and inspiration, with a hook-laden chorus to die for and a blistering guitar solo to boot ! This hour long CD is an oyster of tasty neo-prog, quite original in scope and delivery , certainly not a Classic but a very trusted recording that I like to revisit regularly. 4 schtroumphs