NOVELLA

My favorite album from one of my favorite prog bands. "Can You Hear Me?" followed by "The Sisters" comprise, IMHO, one of those rare events in music: a perfect side. (Side A from the vinyl LP). And prog at its very finest. "CYHM?" has one of those unforgettable intros Tout et al are so known for and "Sisters" has, next to "A Trip to the Fair" (Scheherazade And other Tales), my favorite Annie Haslam work along with those incredibly effective horns and the wonderful Spanish guitar phrases. An amazing piece of music! I enjoy John Tout's original work so well and the spaces and the prominent acoustic guitars make this such a timeless collection of songs. And then, of course, you have Annie---the most beautiful voice ever to grace the grooves of prog music---here sounding very relaxed, yet mature and confident. Though "The Captive Heart" and even "Midas Man" both lack something---a vocal or melodic hook, if you will---they are so well performed, mixed and produced (at least on the CD I'm listening to these days) that I can be a bit forgiving. Also, "Touching Once" is lacking some lyrical power but musically the construction is definitive prog and contains absolutely mesmerizing interweaving of all band members with orchestra. (Love those horns, strings and choir after the Pearl-Jam-stolen guitar cord progression at the 5:35 mark.)

1. "Can You Hear Me?" (13:39) the intro of all intros--the one I've always used to identify prog and my progressive rock radio show. Some beautiful, flowing symphonic prog of the finest caliber make this one a sure-fire candidate for admission to Prog Valhalla's Hall of Epics. I just love the rich layers of strumming 12-string guitars. (30/30)

2. "The Sisters" (7:14) another flawless, gorgeous song that expresses such beautiful emotion with an astonishingly perfect Spanish feel. (15/15)

3. "Midas Man" (5:45) despite being a song that was obviously contrived to be a radio-friendly "hit", there are some really magical elements to this song: the wall of acoustic guitars strumming away, the Spanish acoustic guitar melody line that sets everything up, John Tout's "strings", and, of course, Annie's performance (even if the lyrics are a bit corny). The Sergio Leone like Western effects and plucked bass line melody are also a bit corny--as is the use of large tubular bells, but, still, it all works nicely. (8.75/10)

4. "The Captive Heart" (4:12) another pretty, classical-piano founded piece that attempts to display a chemistry between John Tout and Annie Haslem. Unfortunately, (once again) it turns out to be nothing so very special. The highlight actually becomes the arrangement, execution, and successful capture to tape of the intricate weave of multiple voices in the chorus sections. (8.5/10)

5. "Touching Once (Is So Hard to Keep)" (9:25) not a perfect song but a perfect example of the symphonic style of construction and organization for progressive rock epics. (18/20)

A/five stars; a masterpiece collection of symphonic progressive rock songs. A definitive album also for the subtleties which, IMO, are what distinguish prog: the fact that the music demands and deserves close and repeated listening. Music shouldn't have to bang you over the head to get your attention. IMHO, "Novella" is one of Prog's finest if final moments; one of the top 50 prog LPs of all-time.