ANCIENT AFTERNOONS

This open-minded reviewer keeps on informing the visitors from this wonderful site about 40 years of exciting progrock (1966-2006), here is a beauty from the Nineties. The first track "The painter and the king" (5 parts) has a delicate classical inspired symphonic sound (flute, acoustic guitar) with strong hints from early Genesis (twanging guitars), the electric guitarwork is very flowing and sensitive. The next song "Verge of suicide" (4 parts) has echoes from PFM, due to the sparkling flute, acoustic guitar and warm vocals. The final part includes fanfare-like bombastic keyboards and drums. Then a shorter song entitled "Night storm", it has a compelling symphonic climate featuring howling electric guitar, accompanied by saxophone and flute. The fourth composition "Ancient afternoon of a unknown town" is the 'magnum opus' (9 parts, 26 minutes) and sounds very alternating, ranging from mellow with acoustic guitars, flute and soaring keyboards to bombastic with swirling flute and up-tempo with sumptuous synthesizers in the vein of the Japanese prog (Gerard, Deja Vu, Ars Nova). Surprising elements are the use of xylophone, brass and classical guitar. The final song "Shades of grey" is a short bonustrack that delivers twanging acoustic guitar, flute and Hackett-like guitar, strongly evoking early Genesis. IF YOU LIKE EARLY GENESIS AND CLASSICAL MUSIC, THIS CD IS WORTH A TRY!