PAMPERED MENIAL

"Take it or leave it": I wouldn't be so drastic. Between those who say this is one of the absolute masterpiece of our favourit genre and those others who would use this CD as an ash-tray, I think there must be a middle course. When I first listened to it I immediately got a very clear idea: this was the strangest mix between Rush and the melodic rock Italian band Pooh, combining the powerful riff of the first ones and the romantic slant of the secon ones. The result is good and interesting, but if you don't consider Surkamp's (irritating) voice, generally the band lacks in personality. Tunes are good and well played, but I can't find anything original in mainstream rock pieces such as Song Dance and Natchez Trace, while Episode is a good melodic song, but nothing more (any Italian symphonic prog band would do better). The instrumental Preludin starts with the right spirit, but then becomes patchy and it is too short: the band seems to give up good ideas for lack of time. The same critics can be moved to Of once and future kings, which really reminds me of some PFM tracks: it should have been a lengthy piece, and the good stuff in it needed to be developed more. If it were for these songs, you could forget this album, but then three more numbers remain, and they are some of the most beautiful tunes I know. I could fall in love with the piano intro to Julia, and the very song is one of the most refined and heart-breaking ballad of all prog rock. Late Novembre features an excellent interplay between the romantic verses (very well arranged) and the rocking chorus, conuterpointed by those chilling mellotron chords. Finally, Theme From Subway Sue is an impressive rock song, not very much in the prog vein, but moving, melancholic, even desperate (listen to Surkamp's yells at the end: this time his voice sound even providential, this song wouldn't have any meaning without it). Three songs which make the listen worthwhile. But, please, do not consider them more than a rather good... Episode...