ALPHATAURUS

I cry when I listen to Alphataurus. I cry because since they have reformed I can not travel to see them and because of the beauty in this album. For me, there is no comparison. No candle to hold in front of Alphataurus. With all the highly intelligent songwriting they have done for this album they had managed to be fresh and an entity unto themselves as a creative Heavy Prog outfit. Some might even say Heavy Metal (Dopo L'uragano/After The Hurricane). Powerful, edgy, varied instrumentation, highly dynamic, and full use of the studio time was employed unlike what Yes would do: take vacations and go skiing.

The album has beautiful atmosphere. Nice reverb. A tad under produced sound wise like Metamorfosi's brilliant first two. Much multi tracking. Tight grooving jazzy drums. Effective rocking guitars and bass. And topping it off: great vocals with a wide range and multiple harmonies. Sometimes five part.

Pellegrini! Incredible! With his command of the keyboards he deserves more accolades. Organ, piano, RMI piano (or a Korg Heavy-keys), Moog... if you enjoy heavy keys the disappointment should be saved for another bands. Jazz, rock, classical overtones. Sweet!

In addition, all because anyone play a Hammond they are automatically compared to Emerson. The hell with Emerson. I hear no echos of ELP at all, and I love ELP and Emerson. There are other organists prior to Emerson (and Wakeman for that matter)? Save that for the formidable Triumvirat.

To fully describe every track will ruin the engagement. You will have when you get this album. The most fond memory was driving to St Louis on I70. I was in Pennsylvania headed West, driving though the mountains. The 9+ minute La Mente Vola (The Mind Flies) begins. I was transported from this rat race into another plain. The 3 and 1/2 instrumental beginning with it's ostinato electric piano fading in with peaks, with rays of sun coming through as a flute-ish Moog. The beat comes parallel to it all while the Moog bass floods the ground... it pains me that when I listen to it again and again I can never recapture that initial feeling. IMO, among the best moments in Prog.

The triple gatefold album cover is as strong as the album. Highly intense. The bringer of peace dropping bombs from it's chest, many other mutated animals wrecking havoc, the face of the earth lying dead (or waiting to be awakened), and a huge mushroom cloud... looks like the animals are taking back what's theirs, and rightfully so. We ruined enough.

This album guides the listener to not what I would call accessible, but I would call it inviting.

I will wait for the new album for 2012.

Enjoy.

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