ELA ELA

Hey Hey Hosanna! A Greek treat and an Axis of Love with religious overtones, Axis had something of a cult following in Greece (just don't tell Scientologists their religion is really a cult, as they tend to get rather annoyed). Don't worry though, you don't have to don orange robes, shave your head, or prance around in a circle chanting "Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna, Krishna". No, it's simply that with a church organ and heavenly choir in attendance, one can't help feeling a sense of spiritual love and devotion is in order. The opening song "Osanna" is a happy-clappy feel-good song, so feel free to clap and sing along if the spirit so takes you. And with that in mind, I hope you'll abide with me as we say a prayer and give thanks to the Prog Gods on Mount Olympus for giving us this heavenly blessing of Greek Prog:- "Our father, Who art in prog heaven, Give us this album and forgive us our Genesis "Trespass" album, For thine is the kingdom of Prog, And the power and the glory of Greek Prog, Forever and Ever, Amen to that! Ela Ela (Greek for "Hey Hey") is an album for those discerning prog fans amongst us who prefer their prog a little on the lighter side, with music as warm and comforting as a favourite fluffy cardigan, and sounding as comfortably familiar as Aphrodite's Child's first two poppy prog albums. The name of the band "Axis" is a sly reference to Jimi Hendrix, so you can expect to hear plenty of groovy, psychedelic pop tunes along the way with the occasional guitar freak out thrown in for good measure too - and all lightly sprinkled with an unmistakable Greek flavour that's as enjoyable as an evening of plate-smashing at your local Greek restaurant. And the highlight of the album? The final track: "Bad Trip" -a grandiose and magnificent prog spectacular - which you may well have heard before - that has all of the pomp and ceremony of Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance March at the Last Night of the Proms. Overblown? Maybe. Glorious and magnificent? Definitely! A word of warning: the first two Axis albums are really one and the same album with the tracks listed in a different order, which sounds as dodgy as some of Del Boy's hooky gear down at Peckham market. Oh, and one more thing: there was a third Axis album, released in 1973, which is still a mighty fine album, but it's something of a witches brew, so it's really one for Jazz Fusion freaks. An edgy and challenging album to listen to maybe, for those who like to dice with danger, but not nearly as hazardous as cooking sizzling sausages on a barbecue at a naturist resort.

The Ten Commandments of Prog:-

1. The Prog Gods are the Lords of Prog and thou shalt have no other Prog Gods before thee

2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image of a classic prog album cover

3. Thou shalt not take the names of the Lords of Prog in vain

4. Remember the Black Sabbath day, for the seventh day is for the Holy worship of prog

5. Honour thy father and thy mother's prog collection

6. Thou shalt not murder a classic prog anthem

7. Thou shalt not commit adultery with a fellow prog fan's husband or wife

8. Thou shalt not steal a prog album

9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against a fellow prog fan

10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's prog collection