BREAKING BARRIERS

"Breaking Barriers" was TRIBUTE's second release and continued their exploration into commercial symphonic progressive space rock. This album has stronger electric guitar presence and a couple of vocal tracks, but manages to sustain their positive musical explorations. The vocal harmonies are truly majestic with compelling voices used throughout. The great thing about this album is that they did not try to carbon copy the first and really gave way to some new leanings and genuine progression to follow thru on. On this album TRIBUTE also dig more into the world music envelope with an African ditty (featuring Amadu Jarr on the African percussion) and a Scotish Celtic influenced track. Overall a great album full of excellent musicianship and expressive positive song writing.

Tribute was and is a band gone under the radar in prog circles, formed by guitarist Gideon Andersson in 1982 and lasting untill around 1992 as far as I know with 3 album in their pockets. First album was released in 1984 , second was issued in 1986 named Breaking barriers. Between first and second, some line up changes, exit drummer Ulf Andersson and joining famous drummer Pierre Moerlen ex Gong and Mike Olfield. Despite some prolific touring with first two albums in Germany and even a participation at famous Montraux jazz festival, Tribute remaining quite a band only for deep divers of prog rock, even their all 3 albums are quite good overall. Breaking barriers is an eclectic album, going from symphonic prog to jazz fusion in places with some world music a combination of Tangerine Dream, Mike Oldfield, Gong and swedish jazz fusion . Breaking barriers and Steamlined are the best pieces from here, first with voice and second an excellent instrumental track proving that Tribute was an intresting band from mid to late '80s in prog realm. All in all more then decent release, musicianship is quite good and all 3 albums worth investigated, for me 3.5 stars for sure, nice art work aswell.