FOUR MOMENTS

A rare Aussie symphonic rock group, Sebastian Hardie is also quite over-rated IMHO, but it has its casts of die-hard fans ready to defend them against all tides. Lead by singer/guitarist Millo, the (standard prog) quartet develops a rather calm and derivative symphonic prog that can range along with Fruupp, BJH, Camel, early-Curved Air, without ever reaching the first three's talent either. But their music is hardly devoid of merits, but IMHO, what lacks them is inspiration. The Plavsic brothers in the rhythm section seem a bit short to compete with other groups

Their heard-elsewhere symphonic prog is clearly derivative of Genesis, but there is a clear Camel aftertaste as well as most of the solos are by the guitar while the keyboards provide the background layers and the symphonic chords. While the first side tracks (supposed to make a side-long feature, but the Japanese reissue I rented does not indicate this) are relatively boring and even have an amateurish side (mainly due to the inspiration-less cheesy songwriting), the second side is made of two instrumentals which are much more reminiscent of Finch or Focus, but not really coming to the Dutch brilliance either. This is especially true for Rosanna (who apparently won an award for best instrumental) which sounds like an average Focus (theme) track on one of their classic albums, but it sounds too derivative for me to be really appreciative. The closing Openings (couldn't resist that one ;-) is actually their better piece (if all tracks were of this level, this album would merit its overrated reputation, but alas) by far, even if everything still spells Dutch for them, but somehow this track works.

Funnily enough, with the two Cd reissues, both albums present the frontmen dressed with the same attire, and both their artworks are fairly similar also. Hardly essential as some of my fellow collabs would have you believe, SH's debut will ravish non-demanding progheads, but ley's face it for all the others, this will fall way short of being good and sound particularly dated. If it were not for the last track, this album would be for collectors only.

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