VOICES FROM THE CROWD

This German five-piece progrock formation was founded in the late Eighties and released her debut CD entitled A Poet's Soliloquy in 1994. Darius played a lot of gigs and they were even support-act for Canadian band Saga. Listening to this album I notice echoes from early Marillion, Aragon (because of the vocals like Les Dougan) and Saga but I got the impression that Darius does her best to sound original. The nine compositions are tastefully arranged and coloured with lots of shifting moods, breaks and accellarations. Wonderful songs are First Contact with beautiful harpsichord and Alone with warm Grand piano and emotional vocals. We can also enjoy strong and sensitive guitar solos in Voices, Searching and Snowflakes (wah-wah). The keyboards are varied, especially the piano is blended very wonderfully into the music. In 1997 Darius made this fresh, dynamic and modern sounding album, 10 years later they seem to belong to the progrock vaults, what a pity! My rating: 3,5 stars.