MUTTERED PROMISES FROM AN AGELESS POND

You would expect a BJH (Barclay James Harvest) tribute band, but "Galdariel" is nothing close to them. This band sounds as much as "Yes" than "Stacastle". Some "Genesis" syntezisers as well will be added to the cocktail and the tranquil mood of this album will remind us "Trespass".

But the mix is not really brilliant here. Of course, it sounds as a derivative work. My favourite song is "The Day Before The Harvest". A very delicate and pleasant number. The dual voices are fully Anderson-like and works very well. "To die In Avalon" is a long piano piece of music. Fully Emerson oriented. Their keyboard player plays very gently and vocals are again so sweet. It is not a great number but a good one that will easily attract persons that are nostalgic of a certain era (which I am). Not very personal though.

The epic of the album "Landhal's Cross" has a similar intro as "CTTE", then turns into "Mocking Bird" (at least some reference to BJH in this one). It is a bit flat, I have to say. Too melancholic and little variety during these twenty minutes (even the "birds" will be featured...).

I can't really be over-enthusisatic about this release. A decent debut. Not very original in terms of music, "Galadriel" evokes some nostalgia. Two stars.