JESTER

This is my Machiavel second best album, after Mechanical Moonbeams (an omnipresent Mellotron choir section I wrote). The music from this Belgian formation sounds very melodic and harmonic, tastefully arranged and wonderfully layered with a wide range of vintage keyboards, topped with the Machiavel trademark vocals, a voice in a higher range and often with vocal harmonies.

Now a look at the 7 tracks of the original LP that I bought in the early Eighties, in the known German record shop Saturn (Cologne).

Mainly slow rhythms with some breaks and accellarations and wonderful colouring by the keyboards (string- ensemble, spectacular Minimoog runs and Fender Rhodes electric piano), strong English vocals and great guitarplay (from sensitive to fiery) in Wisdom and Sparkling Jaw.

The ballad Moments has a pleasant romantic atmosphere featuring warm vocals, twanging acoustic guitar and wonderful Mellotron choirs.

In the Reign of Queen Pollution starts with a mellow keyboard intro, then halfway flowing shifting moods delivering great work on the Mellotron (choir section), Minimoog synthesizer and Fender Rhodes piano, along good vocals.

Wonderful changing climates, surprising breaks, varied keyboard work (majestic Mellotron choirs) and strong vocals in Jester and Mister Street Fair.

And finally the epic composition Rock, Sea And Tree that alternates between mellow and swinging featuring fine interplay between a dynamic rhythm-section, vocals and piano. Halfway we can enjoy a sensitive electric guitar solo, then a gradually more bombastic atmosphere with a propulsive rhythm-section and a sensational Minimoog solo.

Although the Genesis and Yes hints are obvious Machiavel has succeeded to blend these influences with an own touch (like the trademark vocals), and with lots of interesting musical ideas, embellished with an awesome and varied vintage keyboard sound.

If you are up to prog that shifts between sumptuous symphonic rock and accessible melodic rock this a fine band to discover (the early albums, later Machiavel turned into pretty poppy).