THE GREAT PROPHECY OF A SMALL MAN

Reading the reviews about Modest Midget, here and on their website, and seeing them being associated to names like Focus, Frank Zappa, Gentle Giant, The Beatles, Camel, Elvis Costello and even Steve Vai, I had to check for myself what this band is about. Their music has been analysed from different angles, including Lionels playing, which is often praised (and rightfully so!), as well as the compositions, the arrangements, the "attractviness" of the songs, their length, the dose of moog use etc etc.

Gentleman, I have been following this band since the first time I heard their EP, and I am telling you that this band is not merely just another incidental progressive attempt. In fact I believe that even Lionel himself never referred to his band as belonging to the Prog-Rock world. I would like to dispute that. None of the reviews I read realizes the true treasure that this cd is, and what a bright future this band has.

I believe that this album is so innovative and rich, complex and yet so easy to listen to that it achieves something that very few progressive bands have, if any. No two songs are the same, and no two moods are comparable. Every song is a world onhis own, waiting to be discovered. The instrumentals: Jorge Knows, Coffee From Yesterday & I Came I Saw I Left, show true compositional craftsmanship which no classical composer would be ashamed of. The texts are weird, but wonderful, and the production is spotless, managing to avoid any exhaggerated pompousness which is so often the case in Prog music.

Even a song like "Buy Me" which is often described as the simplest most commercial number on the cd,is actualy brilliant, with a great sense of humor that we so lack in this genre, very well written and perfectly performed. The quirky finale leaves no doubt who far beyond Modest Midget are in comparison to Green Day (being a Punk Rock parody song).

The rest of tracks are just as brilliant; Troubles In Heaven which sounds like a revival of the Beatles, but is absolutely original, Evolution, the magestic Contemporary Ache, and the wonderful closing track; The Last Straw. My fellow reviewers mentioned the fact that the songs were " not long " as if it prevents them from qualifying as a Prog Rock band. I think that true brilliance is independent of technicalities like length, instrumentation or even sophistication. Although it must be said that the compositions are far richer than anything that Pink Floyd, Deep Purple or even Genesis have ever done. Especialy concerning the melodies, the harmonies and chord progressions. If you haven't heard this album, you haven't heard the best of 2010. The simplistic genius of Syd Barret and John Lennon manage to mingle with the symphonic abilities of Keith Emerson and Frank Zappa. Dear friends, mark my words: The Great Prophecy is likely to be a classic within 20-30 years. I truely believe so. And I've been priviliged to be one of the first to have heard it on the same year that it came out.