TALL TALES

When I listened to this album by the first time, my impression was "Mid-GENESIS adding the RUSH vocalist". It could be a simple definition, but CRUCIBLE has another influences (some KANSAS, a little bit of JETHRO TULL), and sounds really good!

I think there's a big difference between "derivative" and "imitative": In the first case, music has influences from well known bands (generally the "monsters") and, in the second, music or style or execution is just a copy. OK, "Tall Tales" is a derivative album, inspired in '70s progressive sound and very well done.

The longer tracks ("Over the Falls", "Lords and Leeches" and -specially- the 21 minutes magnificent suite "An Imp's Tale") are the most complex and changing numbers -and the best-, while the rest is nice and accessible (even the very simple instrumental "In Ancient Tongue" and the AOR piece "The Salamander", this one including some reggae rythms).

A pleasant album for proggers who love seventies' music. Not an incredible stuff, but very nice. Recommended.