BATTLEMENT

I guess everyone agrees to say that "Neuschwanstein" plays Genesis-oriented music. When I discovered this lost album from the German prog scene I couldn't believe what I heard. Of course, this happened only three years ago and I was jsut hungry on some old Genesis sounds I guess. If you are in the same situation as I was, no doubt that you will be fully charmed by this album.

If you are amongst the hard and old school not tolerating any incursion in the repertoire of this great band then, just skip this album. You'll only be angry and bitter about it.

The comparision is absolutelly inevitable throughout the whole of this album.

The powerful keyboards during "Loafer Jack" and even more in "Intruders and the Punishment" will remind you the instrumental part of "Cinema Show". The latter is really fantastic. A clone maybe, but such a good one. I strongly recommend this song to ANY open-minded Genesis fan. A fantastic and emotional voyage, a song as "Ice with Dwale" has more of the Trespass mood. Almost acoustic and incredibly melodic. Very emotional vocals. Oh, yes. I forgot to tell you. The singer. He sounds almost as Peter. Would you believe ?

It might be of course a bit monotonous that their main source of inspiration is limited to "Cinema Show" like again in "Battlement". Althought this song includes some great guitar work, fabulous mellotron but the general mood is again the same. It is the third time so far on this album (out of five songs).

"Midsummer day" was unreleased and available as a bonus track. IMO, it should have remained unreleased although it features some nice flute moments.

The closing number "Zärtlicher Abschied" couln't have better named "Sweet Au Revoir". Indeed. A superb Trespass-esque song. Full of flute, acoustic guitar, and wonderful keyboards while the rhythm catches up. Do I need to tell which song it reminds me ? A great summary for this very good album.

This is a very pleasant record although not excessively original of course. A good sideway to remind the masters if you need it (and I do need it frequently). Superb keys all the way through and these vocals do have something ...poignant. This album is of course full of nostalgia, when you listen to it now. But remember that this record was released in 1978. It might well be the godfather of the neo-prog genre (if the definition available on PA is correct, but I think it is).

Four stars. Only because of the too obvious link. Do play it more than once in a decade, you won't suffer any overdose. Even if you are a diabetic proghead, like I am (unfortunately).