ANAKIN TUMNUS

Over a period of about three years Gratto would get together and record extremely complex prog. However the band broke up and it wasn't for another two years that anything was done with the tapes. Gratto the band were Gratto (keyboards, vocals), Chris Rodler (guitars), Brett Rodler (drums) and Gary Madras (bass). I am not sure how many years Chris and I have been in contact, but it goes as far back as Drama as well as RH Factor, Leger De Main and others. I have always had a lot of respect for Chris and Brett's abilities yet here they were in an unusual setting, as Gratto co-wrote the music with Chris while providing all of the lyrics.

Chris came across the tapes by accident and decided to work through them to see if there was anything that should be released and instead of going for a lengthy epic has instead released an album that is only thirty six minutes long, containing just three numbers. But even though this album is so short (in relative terms) it contains far more ideas than many prog albums could ever hope to achieve. It is extremely complex yet retaining melody, while branching and splitting off into myriad ideas time and again.

It is an album that really has to be listened to otherwise the music just washes over the top. There is so much going on that at times it conjures up images of classic Genesis but sounds absolutely nothing like them at all. I am a huge fan of Spock's Beard, as you all well know, but this album sounds far more mature with much greater depth. It definitely proves to Flower Kings that it is all about quality, not quantity.

This album is already starting to make a stir in prog circles and you will kick yourself if you don't get in on the act.

Originally appeared in Feedback #72, Feb 03