TRITONUS

TRITONUS came from Mannheim and were actually the brainchild of German keyboardist Peter Seiler.While the band was still around since 1972,Seiler already released a solo avant/prog album entitled ''Keyboards and friends'' in 1974,before dedicating himself exclusively to the band,where he was joined by Rolf Dieter Brand on bass/guitars/vocals and Charlie Jost on drums.Finally the powerful trio released their self-titled debut in 1975.

Following the steps of E.L.P. and TRIMVIRAT,TRITONUS produced fairly complex keyboard-driven symphonic prog in this album.Especially the 10-min. opener seems like a tribute to E.L.P.,containing tons of classicaly-inspired organ orgasms,supported by a tight rhythm section.But unlike KEITH EMERSON,Seiler uses some fantastic mellotron at the end of the track,adding a more atmospheric taste.''Sunday waltz'' could have been easily in the tracklist of E.L.P.'s debut with mellow jazzy guitars and smooth GREG LAKE-like vocals all the way.''Lady madonna'' is a piano-based trully hilarious instrumental,while the 9-min. ''Far in the sky'' is much better with grandiose church organ opening the way for the upcoming spacey moog solos of Seiler.This is absolutely awesome Teutonic symphonic rock,before Seiler's Hammond organ takes over at the middle until the end,where a crazy drum solo of Jost introduces the listener to the final Churchorgan-based minute.On ''Gliding'' the mellotron sound returns,offering a slow and dreamy composition with atmospheric vocals,somewhat like a mix of early-KING CRIMSON with THE MOODY BLUES,before its funky organ-driven ending lines.The album closes exactly with his opening mood.An EMERSON-ian ''Lady Turk'' is another Seiler-centered composition,where plenty of Hammond organ breaks,obscure synths and even some oriental tunes make it the most experimental track in the line.

The re-issue of the album comes with a 1978 single called ''The Trojan Horse Race'' with a sound far from the band's mid-70's days.While maintaining their progressive nature,TRITONUS choose a song-based style for this track where Seiler's keys are somehow covered by the mass of vocals.The track offers surprisingly some fine clavinet work throughout,worth mentioning.

TRITONUS won't ever win a prize for their originality and unique sound.However on this first release we are tallking about a very tight band with well-crafted compositions and anyone after classic keyboard-based 70's prog close to the likes of E.L.P.,RICK WAKEMAN and TRIUMVIRAT should purchase it.