MEDITERRANEAN TALES (ACROSS THE WATERS)

Most of the devoted prog rock fans are familiar with the name TRIUMVIRAT,a German band formed in 1969 in Cologne by keyboardist Hans-Jurgen Fritz,bassist Werner Frangenberg (soon to be replaced by long-time member Hans Pape) and drummer Hans Bathelt.From their early life the band focused on playing keyboard-driven rock with classical tendencies in the vein of THE NICE,BEGGAR'S OPERA and ,of course, E.L.P.,who had been their major influence.After playing several lives in local clubs in Cologne,they won a contract with EMI,to release their debut ''Mediterrenean tales'' in 1972.

Undoubtfully TRIUMVIRAT were not only great musicians and performers,but they had strong compositional skills as well.The band's hero is definitely Hans Fritz and his virtuosic Hammond organ work with tons of classical-inspired parts,tremendous solos and atmospheric slow-tempo passages.Surrounded by the strong drumming of Bathelt and the deep bass lines of Pape,Fritz created four original compositions with baroque influences and ,besides the dominant organ,there is plenty of delicate grand piano and haunting synths in here for all lovers of keyboard-driven rock symphonies.However,where vocals are added,the album seems to lose its orientation, being sometimes out of the whole atmosphere,as Pape's singing,though not really accented,its kind of mediocre to my ears.These parts are fortunately very limited and instrumentally speaking TRIUMVIRAT certainly belong to the top league of classical-inspired progressive rock bands.A great debut and, of course,a strongly recommended one!4 STARS...