CROSS

'Awesome musicians, exciting prog, from Russia'

The Russian progrock formation Little Tragedies was founded in 1994 by composer Gennady Ilyin, a graduate of the St. Petersburg Conservatory. Between 1995 and 2014 the band has released 13 studio-album, the first 3 as a trio featuring Gennady Ilyin on keyboards, Yuri Skripkin on drums and Oleg Babynin on bass. Since their next effort entitled Return from 2005 Little Tragedies turned into a five piece formation, including a guitar ' and saxophone player. I follow this outstanding band for more than a decade and I am impressed how they have matured, and how they keep on delivering quality albums. After my reviews about their two excellent 2009 albums The Paris Symphony and The Magic Shop I would like to go back one more year in time, this review is about their CD # 9 entitled Cross. I am delighted about the great tension between the bombastic and mellow songs, the inventive arrangements and the excellent work on keyboards and guitar, these musicians succeed to keep my attention this entire album!

1. Cross (8.34): This CD (running time 62 minutes) starts with the long titletrack, what an exciting experience: ultra- bombastic atmospheres with sensational synthesizer flights, flowing guitarwork, powerful Hammond waves, a very propulsive and dynamic rhythm-section and awesome interplay.

2. Autumn (4:57): After a warm classical guitar intro, the climate turns into mellow featuring soaring Hammond organ, soft synthesizer runs and almost whispering Russian vocals, what a contrast with the first song!

3. Lakes (4:13): A dreamy atmosphere with wonderful interplay between keyboards and sensitive electric guitar, halfway a break with a bass solo (accompanied by tender piano) and in the end pleasant work on the clarinet.

4. Old Abbey (7:32): A very varied composition: an intro with delicate interplay between harpsichord and synthesizers, then a slow rhtyhm that turns into bombastic with exciting synthesizer flights and finally a dreamy climate with acoustic guitar, warm vocals and moving guitar runs.

5. Portrait of a Man (3:46): The flamenco guitar intro strongly evokes Spanish Caravan by The Doors to me, then a mellow atmosphere that is beautifully coloured by clarinet, vocals and howling electric guitar.

6. Tanets (4:28): A cheerful song that reminds me of Seventies Mike Oldfield with a wide range of instruments, including a swirling Hammond organ solo.

7. The Voice of Silence (19:10): This epic composition delivers lots of spectacular bombastic parts with dazzling synthesizer runs, ELP inspired Hammond work and exciting interplay between guitar and keyboards. Very subtle is the blend of flamenco rhythm guitar in some parts, it gives a special flavour to the music.

8. Eagle (6:42): After a spacey intro, we can enjoy wonderful interplay between piano and Hammond organ, topped by moving electric guitar. What a tension in the music and what a contrast with the bombastic part of this stunning Russian progrock formation!

9. Hippopotamus (2:48) : Again great interplay between guitar and keyboards, along a pleasant intro with clarinet and vocals. The final part features a spectacular synthesizer solo, what a virtuoso!

This is a top notch progrock formation that started as a kind of 'ELP meets Ayreon', but gradually Little Tragedies developped a more varied and elaborate sound, highly recommended!

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