BLUEPRINT

From memory, I first heard Sebastian Hardie at Melbourne University in the mid or late 70's with a cover of Tubular Bells. A very impressive four piece perhaps on the softer side of Yes and Genesis.

Their first two releases "Four Moments" and "Windchase" were well received by local prog fans. It has been a 35 year wait for the third release "Blueprint" although guitarist Mario Millo has released several albums (and soundtracks) in the intervening years.

Blueprint follows very much in the same vein as "Four Moments" and "Windchase" and I am certain some of the earlier themes have been revisited.

Toivo Plit's keyboards are close to Tony Banks' style with some nice restrained keyboard solos, Mario Millo's guitar is reminiscent of the softer side of Steve Howe but neither dominants.

Overall, this is a very good collection of tracks. Maybe the lyrics are a bit puerile but this is mainly an instrumental album with very limited singing.

It does leave the listener wondering what may have been had these guys continued through the 80s and 90s. They certainly had the strength in musical ability with Plit and Millo and songwriting to deliver some classics?but now are most likely to become a footnote in prog history

Recommended for 70's prog fans. 3.5 stars.