HEMISPHERES

the seventh album by the Canadian prog rock band. It 's 1978 and Rush are already an institution in the international music scene, thanks to record success of previous release "2112 " , their masterpiece of the "first phase". The previous studio album "A Farewell to Kings " ended with the powerful and epic "Cygnus X-1 : Book I : The Voyage", incredible journey of intrepid Rocinante, the black hole Cygnus X- 1 and left open many questions, since the last sound of the record was a heart throbbing in fade out ... The extraordinary Canadian trio opens the dance with "Cygnus X-1 : Book II: Hemispheres" a history steeped in Greek mythology, relating to that told in the first book. This first track is a triumph of sounds, that highlight the talent of the three icons of prog -rock; changes of time, masterful solos by Alex Lifeson, overflowing sequences of Geddy Lee bass - and percussion in traditional Peart -style, that continue to be inhuman in their perfection!! Although this Book II is composed of six chapters, seems to have no solution of continuity, and hides details elusive at first hearing. Again Neil Peart to deal with the lyrical section: Brilliant . After the overdose overflowing of music, comes a short piece: "Circumstance", another glaring example of the lyrical genius of Peart. This time and attention centered on the concept of revelation, and with the background music, it seems really open eyes on the "things of life" Then comes a hit of the band "The Trees", absolutely fantastic on stage, still in rotation on the radio. It is a piece hard-rock dynamic and powerful, but the cherry on the cake is "La Villa Strangiato": An Exercise in "self -Indulgence" , the first instrument that Rush have composed, a flurry of notes, the arrangements and rhythms, that is meant to be a grand exercise in self-satisfaction!! According to rumors the piece was due to record several times, because the group wanted to record it in direct, and so it was: on CD and vinyl versions of the original you can hear background noises, maybe electrostatic disturbances .

In any case, it's an incredible track, from the beginning and delicate finish on the final guncotton "Hemispheres" is perhaps the pinnacle of the "second phase", the more ' progressive, with many keyboards, untouched, far light-years from the various "Presto " or " Vapor trails" .