GREEN MAN

Ache's first steps into this Symphonic/Proto-Prog Rock style they performed were more than encouraging.From January 70's and until the spring of the same year ''De Homine Urbano'' had been performed in different occasions as a Rock Ballet/Opera at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen in a show that included classically educated dancers and a psychedelic lightshow.With the confidence at high levels the group moved on to a second album the following year.It was entitled ''Green Man'', again featuring the promotion of Phillips.

Ache left aside the sidelong suites of the debut for the sake of shorter and more flexible compositions, however their style was more or less the same as in ''De Homine Urbano''.They still sound extremely similar to BEGGARS OPERA and THE NICE in a Proto-Symphonic Rock style with strong Psych overtones, which included massive organ waves and a powerful rhythm section, while the vocal parts evoke the style of PROCOL HARUM.Their sound was unbelievably energetic and dynamic regarding the time of the album's release with the guitars of Finn Olafsson supporting constantly the keyboards of Peter Mellin in pounding rhythmic parts.A couple of compositions like ''Shadow of a Gipsy'', which even became a great hit, or the eponymous track still retain a late-60's feeling with even stronger psychedelic vibes along the lines of PROCOL HARUM, featuring melodic organ textures and guitars and choir-like vocal lines.The general style is not actually competitive for today's standards and the new Ache album seems to lack any killer moments, though the talent of the group is more than evident

Good release, fans of early-70's British Progressive Rock will love this album, though the band was Danish.The monster organ moves and the overall very passionate sound is the biggest achievements of ''Green man''.A bit dated yet recommended.