PICTURES FROM CYCLUS 7

I waited a long time to get this CD (the first one was a mistake and had inside the Pictures... cover Ache´s next release in fact). After all this expectation I can´t really say I was thrilled when I finally heard it. According to one reviewer this album is inlfuenced by Pink Floyd´s Dark Side Of The Moon, but - with all due respect - I can´t hear ANY musical connection with that record (the lyrics, maybe?). To me the music here is a mix of melodic rock and progressive music not very far away from bands like early ELO or Styx. The only obvious influence at this point is latter day Beatles.

Not that the music inside is not good. I found it to be quite pleasing in many parts and it is obvious that those musicians are skillful (the piano and guitar parts are the highlights). Besides, you don´t hear too many bands coming from Denmark at that time, do we? So I guess it is a kind of first in a time most rock bands were either from US or the UK (Holland and Italy aside, prog wise of course). However, this concept album is quite short (39 minutes) and it fails to generate much excitement. It sounds like they could have be a little more bolder and innovative, but they were holding back somehow. That´s the feeling I got. Several tracks seem to go near that prog direction you expect something symphonic or extraordinaire, but rarely it comes near to that. A pity. Production is quite good for the time.

The band would however do a beter job on their next Bla Som Altid.

Rating: 2,5 stars, really, but I will give it an extra half one for the concept and the good musicanship of all involved. 3 stars in total. Good, ok, but maybe essential only for the Danish prog scene sttory.