CANTAFABULE

One of the most intriguing, most musical and... obviously... best albums in the Rock music history! Cantafabule (1975) is the latest album before most of the group members run away (1977) from the more and more opressing regime (only Mircea Baniciu - Lead Vocal + Guitar - stayed). Starting with "Invocatie" and ending with "Pasarea Phoenix" this is a concept album, where themes and ideas have a common thread. Outstanding vocals, great guitar solos (Nicolae Covaci - in the Jimmy Page league), rare bass (Josef Kappl - as, maybe, only Chris Square comes close), precise, though imaginative drums (Ovidiu Lipan Tandarica - worth listening with close attention if you enjoy Bill Brufford), sensitive also powerful moog-synthesizer (Gunther Reninger - unique in his interpretations - see "Zoomahia") and the enthusiastic, warm and manly voice, combined with the acustic guitar harmony (Mircea Baniciu - fantastic "front stage man" having the show exploding on all their concerts).... Inspired from Romanian ancient music, but evolved into a true prog rock opera, the whole album shines from one end to the other. Every piece is well refined, detailed, and executed with outstanding musical precision and artistic sensitivity. This album is definately a must in every Prog Rock collection. I put this album on the same shelf with King Crimson's "Red", Jethro Tull's "Aqualung", Genesis' "Foxtrot", Gentle Giant's "Octopus", Yes' "Close to the Edge", Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here", Led Zeppellin's "Houses of the Holly".