NUMBER SEVEN

My rating: 9/10.

When we expect the final chapter of the trilogy dedicated to ecosystem crisis started with the The Great Leap, Phideaux surprising all with a new album that is not the following of Doomsday Afternoon. To complicate more things, the disc is divided into three parts too, which are linked by a key topic (as suggested the theme of dormouse, repeated three times during the album).

The first part of the album is dedicated to the extraordinary suite Waiting For The Axe To Fall where we found all the elements of Phideaux style: beautiful melodies, great atmosphere in the way of Pink Floyd, male and female lead vocals (what a great singer Valerie Gracious is!). The piano is the instrument that supports the entire structure of the song but even violin and sax have great rilevance here. The majestic elegance of some parts make this suite the highest point Phideaux ever reached in his career.

The second part of the record is a set of fantastic songs, which are all linked (in the first version of the disc released in 2009 these songs formed a second suite). Darkness At Noon is an acoustic ballad with the voice of Xavier in great evidence; in Gift Of The Flame we can hear clearly the influence of 70s prog, especially in the use of the sax in the style of VDGG or Jethro Tull (A Passion Play); Thermonuclear Cheese, an instrumental piece for organ and synth, is the first tribute to 70s italian prog (Le Orme in particular). The Search For Terrestrial Life is really a little masterpiece, with the lead vocals, masterfully executed, divided between male voice and two female.

The less interesting part of the album is the third: Love Theme From Number Seven have a bit too complex arrangement, with an exaggerated use of keyboards (however, the atmosphere of the dramatic piano introduction is stunning!). Storia Senti is the second tribute to italian prog: text is sung in italian, but unfortunately in a ridiculous way and the meaning is absolutely incomprehensible (I can say that without doubt, because I am italian).

Despite some sin in the end listening at Number Seven is extremely rewarding and I cannot give less than five stars: with Doomsday Afternoon, the best record of Phideaux and one of the most beautiful prog album of the last ten years.

Enfin,.... 7 1/2 was cancelled so no more rounds in the battle between Dormouse and Crayfish! Bye.

Best song: Waiting For The Axe To Fall

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