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Happy The Man - Retrospective CD (album) cover

RETROSPECTIVE

Happy The Man

 

Eclectic Prog

3.96 | 14 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

ZowieZiggy
Prog Reviewer
3 stars After a first long break (ten years) without any HTM production, it was probably not a bad idea to release a compilation from this very discreet US band.

This compilation gets most of the track selection out of their first two albums, leaving only three spots (out of thirteen) for their third release "Better Late". This is actually a good choice, since I couldn't really cope with it (although the three ones featured are OK).

HTM plays an almost instrumental music, at times "Genesis" related, at times more on Crimson side ("Stumpy Meets.") or even VDGG.

There is no chronological order here, except the last three numbers which come from their last work. Some might argue about some songs which IMO shouldn't sit here like "Knee-Bitten Nymphus". This one being closer to their third source of inspiration, namely "Camel". "Steaming Pipes" is another jazzy oriented song like "Camel" produced at in the late seventies.

"Wind Up Doll" is one of their very few tracks with vocals is featured; It sounds almost as a "PFM" track (during the time that they used to sing in English). More complex and well constructed, it is one of the best song from this compilation work. "Open Book" is also very good, but fully Trespass-esque.

The longest song ("New York Dream Suite" being a kaleidoscope of their different styles (symphonic, jazzy, ambient).

Like my fellow reviewers (three), I believe it is a perfect introduction to the band and as far as I'm concerned, I don't need more than this one to summarize their career so far. Three albums in one.Fair enough. Three stars.

ZowieZiggy | 3/5 |

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