BABYLON

Babylon

Symphonic Prog

3.92 | 138 ratings

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BigDaddyAEL1964

Could they be the US equivalent of Genesis, if they lasted? Hmmm, sounds like it! Here is my track-by-track opinion:

The Mote in God's Eye: Oh, these guys know how to play, and the singer sure knows how to sing! A composition straight out of Genesis' 'Foxtrot', theatrical and illusive, a promising start!

Before the Fall: Chaotic composition that does not find a solid footing at any point, so despite its individual good ideas, it does not stand very well as a whole. However, the performance of drummer Rodney Best, who shows great prog skills, is noteworthy!

Dreamfish: Constantly alternating rhythms and meters that not only get followed by the singer, but actually give him the ground for a really difficult and admirable performance in the few parts he participates. On the other hand, when I listen to such complex songs, I have the feeling that this is done deliberately at the expense of the musicianship. It's something that personally does not appeal to me. You don't need to tie the instruments in a knot to play progressive... Relax a little, guys!

Cathedral of the Mary Ruin: Here we have early Genesis with a small dose of prime Eloy. Its calm parts are very beautiful indeed, and a smoother structure would flatter the piece much more. The Genesis of "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" could do wonders with a composition like this, "fixing" it where needed, to level up. It is remarkable that it lasts over 7 minutes, but you don't feel that there are less important parts, the entire piece have something to give. It's worthy of the attention of the genre's fans!

Rating:

An album like this should get 3 stars. The whole band is musically skilled, the singer is theatrical and appropriate for the genre, and the level of the compositions will attract the attention of "complex" prog fans. It's not so much to my taste, but I can sense its quality. Too bad they didn't continue!

BigDaddyAEL1964 | 3/5 | 2024-9-25

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