STEP AHEAD

Step Ahead is one of the bands from early '80's that will keep the flag high in progressive rock music with their sole album from 1982 selftitled. This french outfit did manage to creat a good album in that period when progressive rock music was in the shadow. Step Ahead sounds to me like a cross between late '70's german bands like Tibet or Minotaurus with some elements from swiss band from early '80 Dragonfly. The music is close to neo prog, the genre that was a baby in that year, with some symphonic elements thrown in, to give more variety. The keys sounds intristing, the guitar is the main instrument here who gives a pleasent atmosphere in every pieces, but is nothing realy groundbreaking, even the album was issued just prior to Marillion bursting 1983 album. It's sad that they released only one album, it's almosta forgotten gem from 1982, Musea records re issued the album fiew years ago and they got a little more exposure in prog circles than before. The best pieces, well all are good, not a weak moment here, but the most intristing is the opening track Eyes, here Danny Brown's voice is excellent, like on the rest and the instrumental one Heaven - with a guitar sound close to Hackett (Defector era), dark and very smooth. The Cd re issue has 3 live tracks and two unreleased pieces Shangri la ( an AOR tune with progressive leanings) not band not something special either and The sun will rise again. So to this almost unknown band from France I will give 3 stars, a good and pleasent album for sure, but nothing close to an essential listning. Btw - great cover art.