RED QUEEN TO GRYPHON THREE

Richard Harvey was one of the greatest virtuoso's of 70s progressive rock (forget Rick Wakeman, this guy was the real deal). The musicianship on this album is so good it defies belief. However, this album's not about flashy solos and meaningless noodling; it's about music and great composition. And what fascinating compositions they are: medieval and renaissance-type melodies and harmonies fuse with 20th century rhythms and harmonies. Complex fugal passages appear from nowhere. Beautiful melodies are subjected to ingenious "theme and variation" workouts, all infused with a great sense of humour. The instrumentation is also fascinating: Krumhorn duets; bassoon solos, stunning recorder passages (Harvey is probably one of the greatest recorder players of our time) all held together by Graeme Taylor's excellent guitar playing and, of course, Richard Harvey's consummate keyboard playing. Gryphon are one of the best examples of just how sophisticated, eclectic, subtle, informed, adventurous, witty and *un-pretentious* 70s rock music had become before the music industry took fright and closed it's doors to all but Disco music and the oh so pretentious Punk Rock movement. Astonishing stuff!!! I give it *****.