SIGNS OF CHANGE

By 1977, ATF had been in existence for the better part of a decade and accumulated an impressive canon of Christian oriented progressive rock, at least in quantity. It is telling that the bonus material included on the CD reissue is of equal quality to that which appeared on the original LP release, and doesn't sound much different either.

This is heavily organ dominated music, being the main instrument in essentially every song, with just a few dollops of synthesizer and few places where guitars are cut loose. While Peter Banks can claim Keith Emerson as influence, the overall effect of ATF is far more grounded than ELP, more a la Deep Purple by way of proto prog acts like Beggars' Opera. Most tracks contain a hook or two that makes them mildly interesting, and some less convincing jamming. Other than a few near-Celtic numbers, most of the songs are interchangeable, with perhaps the best being "Back to the Light" and "Dreamaway". It is not hard to see how they could not find a backer for their recording in 1977, as by then the best of this style, which assuredly does not include ATF, was already passe.

Mostly of interest as a lost link between prog and new wave, and admittedly for aficionados of non stop organ (even Procol Harum knew how to give it a rest sometimes), "Signs of Change" is thus aptly named, and represents an argument for devolution of prog into new wave while bypassing the fire of punk. Bring on "Der Komissar".

Yes, this is the same After the Fire that brought us the English language cover of Falco's "Der Kommisar". Of course, that's the song that they're best known for. Would it surprise you that they actually started off as a prog rock band? That's true! They were a Christian-oriented band but I never found their lyrics proselytizing. In 1978 they released Signs of Life and is nothing like the new wave albums they would release. This is your keyboard-driven prog, lots of Hammond organ and Moog, in the ELP, Genesis, and perhaps Greenslade style, with the occasional venture into English folk influences that's not a million miles away from the likes of Fairport Convention or Steeleye Span (but no female vocals). Keyboardist Peter Banks had to rename himself "Memory" Banks to avoid confusion with the ex-Yes guitarist with the same name. Peter Banks was also in a band called Narnia who released an album called Aslan is not a Tame Lion in 1974.

Given Signs of Life was released in 1978, the band realized that prog was pretty much a dead end. They quickly signed a deal with CBS, and turned to new wave.

Signs of Life, is the only album you need from them if you're a prog rock fan. Unfortunately I didn't find this to be the lost gem of progressive rock, some passages seem a bit insipid to my ears, but it's still worth getting. For the new wave fans of the band (those who enjoy "Der Kommisar"), be prepared for a shock.

I heard this band made a prog debut album in the late 70´s before they decided to become a new wave outfit and release an infamous version of Falco´s hit Der Komissar in the 80´s. Well, fortunalty, I never heard this or any other of their pop records. But recently I had the opportunily of finding their first CD and I was quite surprised with their sound: Signs Of Chance is a keyboard driven record that has some nice moments. However, the timing for this kind of music was all wrong. And the stuff here was not good enough to make them be notice for anyone but their local fans.

Not that it was bad, no. In fact I liked their Hammond organ sound and they did have the knack to write a few nice hooks. But the problem is that the songs are no more than ok, Andy Piercy voice´s is ok and the playing is ok. In all, nothing that really stands out except maybe the fact that they wrote christian lyrics (something unusual in prog circles at the time). And it´s ok with that too, since they were not really preachy. All the tracks are more or less on the same level, except for the instrumental jigs, with its folksy theme, totally out of place here. The CD has a overall good production.

In the end I found this record to be more of a curio than anything else. Even for the time, they were far behind the best prog groups of the day. However, the band showed some promise that unfortunatly were not fulfilled. Signs of Change is definitly for fans and collectors.

After the Fire when they releasing their first album in 1978 named Signs of change they already having few years in musical bussines as a christian prog rock band. Taken influences from bands such as ELP, Genesis , Flash, Druid - After the Fire first album is the only prog album from their catalogue. After this release they gone new wave, lose some key members from the band and otained for a a short band name ATF Now, Signs of change is a pretty good moog and hammond orientated prog rock with nice instrumental balance on every piece. The voice of Andy Piercy is fiting very well here. Overall not a weak moment hre, but aswell not a groundbreaking release either, is a decent late '70s prog rock album with christian lyrics. A well desearved 3 stars maybe rounded to 3.5 for pieces like Pilgrim with a folk touch and complex instrumental section or Dance of the Marionette. A fairly forgotten band and release in prog circles.