DAYBREAKING LIVE

This is the first album I've heard about Roz Vitalis. Really haven`t got any knowledge about Russian prog, only heard Autograph that came to play to Finland in the eighties. The band says it's influences come for example from King Crimson & Gentle Giant and they're heard in this album. Maybe earlier albums have also some rio/avant-styles, but they're not represented in this. Composition style seems to be to put really different pieces into same composition, that I think has been common both in Gentle Giants music and also modern prog.

'Wides' starts in a very strong KC-atmosphere reminding 'the Devil's Triangles' some parts a bit. But in the middle it changes into beautiful, little bit mediocre and more rhythmic. In the end intensity rises and I really like psych sounding organ in it. Next 'Daybreaking' is beautiful in the beginning but changes into middle kind of gloomy funk and in the end back to the beaty. 'Nepsis' is my least favourite reminding KC:s eighties albums. 'Loro Con Dolcezza e Cortesia' is a short duet to piano and synth. The piano sound reminds me a 'Tetris'-game sound from the nineties. Anyway the most sympathetic piece in this album.

All the way album goes better direction in the end. Next 'Fret Not Thyself Because Evildoers' is my favourite and reminds a little bit Pekka Pohjola's music. It's also the most consistent piece. 'Mother Of All Rain' is a beautiful, but although lasting only four minutes there is not happening much. 'Strangers and Pilgrims On the Earth' has at least four parts. First two are not very interesting but I like the darker last ones. 'Psalm 6' is also one of the highlights in this album. It has most original of the compositions, but it is too long.

I think the main problem in this album like also many today's progalbums is that there isn't enough great material. Specially when it's instrumental music, it really needs good melodies and/or very interesting structures. Also more variation of the instruments might keep up the interest. Now this is same kind of package album, as the most today's albums sadly are. Sure it is heard there are great musicians, but really hope drumplayer Evgeny Trefilov got more passion into his playing, now he sounds like he plays all the time from the notes, sometimes others players intensity rises but not his. Also have to say this is not recorded well, overall sound is quite thin. The picture I got from this album I don't think I will ever get back into Roz Vitalis. But I believe those who want to listen fresh prog and are KC & Gentle Giant fans, will enjoy this album.