STILL LIFE

The year was 1979, I was a high school lad then and was visiting my cousin, whom I got along with very well and visited more than just the odd occasion. It just so happens that his future brother-in-law was visiting his sister, my niece and before long the subject turned to music, which it always did in those days. He wanted to know if I wanted a few records to listen to and being young and still exploring the many musical avenues, gladly responded in the positive and later went home with 3 albums which artists I didn't know.   One of these records and the first one I spinned on the turntable was Still Life. I guess I was intrigued by the album cover. The skull with the flowers reminded me of a graveyard setting and the music, at first, suited the part...   "People in Black, wander 'round in the night, so that they can't be seen" .... So started my journey and love of this album right until today. I was keen to learn the drums way back then, and after a few listens to the album took my sticks to the living room couch and happily banged away, oblivious to what was going on around me and purely enjoying every moment of this superb album.   It does take you through an epic journey and being guitar-less, I guess, made it so much more interesting, although I actually didn't realize at first that we were without guitars. The organs are very dominant and and if you enjoy the sound, well then, you've come to the right place and who doesn't like the sound of 70's Hammond organ-driven music?   All the songs featured on this Vertigo release each has it's tale and mood and also are all wonderfully intricate. From the start to the last track, TIME, are all superb and I'll always keep a special place for this album. I bought the CD version many years later.   I never returned the album to its owner mind you and I'm sure if he really wanted it back, he would've made a plan to get it, or would he? Lucky me or shame on me?   I rate this album very high in terms of my Prog collection and I guess I spinned that vinyl enough times to start wearing it through. A definite 5 for me...