ADONIS

Anyone's Daughter is a band I've heard about since I first joined Prog Archives in 2008 but hadn't quite found the time to get to know until now. Wow! I have been missing something important! If this album is any indication, this German band may be deserving of front line/top tier consideration for all German bands ever!

SIDE 1 1. "Adonis" (24:09) (47.5/50) - Part I: Come Away - opens with a distinctly GENESIS sound, both with guitars, keys, and vocal harmonizing. Even when drums and bass kick in, it's totally GENESIS I'm hearing. Such rich, gorgeous soundscapes in those fifth and sixth minutes! This is amazing! Guitar solo previewing the sound and stylings of MARILLION's Steve Rothery. (15/15) - Part II: The Disguise - opens with classically influenced synth play--something I find quite common among German proggers like TRIUMVIRAT, NEUSCHWANSTEIN, NEKTAR, ELOY, PATRICK MORAZ, and even the accomplished musicians from the original NINA HAGEN BAND (8.5/10) - Part III: Adonis - opens differently--in a prog folk kind of way; reminds me of STRAWBS or ELOY, as well as both Gabriel- and post-Gabriel-eras of GENESIS and soon to arrive MARILLION and 1990s COLLAGE. Brilliant work from all instrumentalists! Most excellent prog! (15/15) - Part IV: The Epitaph - complex solo piano opens this section before multiple voices join in singing. Full band joins in after the first minute just before the song lapses into a brief guitar-led instrumental section. Piano and multiple voice vocals continue throughout the song with guitar solos leading the instrumental interludes. (9/10)

SIDE 2 2. "Blue House" (7:20) opens with some very elaborate classically influenced keyboard soloing but instead of using a piano or organ its a ARP Omni and MiniMoog! Two minutes into it there's a switch to solo electric bass guitar arpeggi with background guitar and synth lines slowly woven in. In the third minute the full band congeals to support the bluesy lead guitar as he solos in a gorgeous RAY GOMEZ sound and style. Gorgeous and fully engaging. (14/15)

3. "Sally" (4:20) piano based in a kind of saloon way with amazing rips from the RAY GOMEZ lead guitar of Uwe Karpa. The vocals of Harald Bareth and Mattias Ulmer are kind of innocuous and forgettable--which detracts from my enjoyment of this music as they are quite central to the song. (8.75/10)

4. "Anyone's Daughter" (9:10) what a guitarist! (17.5/20)

Total Time: 45:19

Five stars; a minor masterpiece of progressive rock music. I understand and do not disagree with the Neo Prog assignation that many give to this band and particularly to this album, but I'm not sure it's completely accurate: the music stands on its own without seeking its possible influences or derivatives very well. I almost feel guilty not giving these remarkable musicians full credit for their sound and style, but then . . . there are familiarities/similarities.