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Pendragon - The Jewel CD (album) cover

THE JEWEL

Pendragon

 

Neo-Prog

3.36 | 366 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

Easy Livin
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin
4 stars A rough diamond

Pendragon's first full album finds them pre their Clive Nolan era. Given the enormous influence he has on all his various projects, the sound is surprisingly familiar in terms of their later works. "The Pleasure of hope" for example leads off with synthesiser and guitar sounds which could just as easily have come from "Not of this world".

The first half of the album is pretty straightforward and well performed, but lacking the maturity of their more complex and progressive works. The second half however sees the band slip smoothly into gear.

"Alaska" has some suggestions of prog, and despite the unworthy "Alaska/I'll ask her" lyric, is instrumentally interesting. The synthesiser/guitar solo is pure Camel from the "Mirage" or "Moonmadness" era. "Excalibur" was the first track to really sound like Pendragon as we now know them. The pace changes throughout, lots of Arthurian references, swirling synths, and a damn fine tune. "Circus" has suggestions of Genesis, especially in the Hackett like ending. "Oh Divineo" reverts to a mixture of a Camel and Genesis sound (nothing wrong with that!), with Andy Latimer and Steve Hackett appearing to drift in an out in equal measures.

A solid first album from the band, with more than a hint of the fine works which were to come in the future.

Easy Livin | 4/5 |

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