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Klaatu - Hope CD (album) cover

HOPE

Klaatu

 

Prog Related

3.93 | 185 ratings

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mothershabooboo
5 stars I very rarely give an album the full 5 star treatment, but this album deserves it.

'Hope' starts where 3:47 EST left off. Quite literally, it starts with the small mouse squeak that ended the first album. It only takes a few spins of this album to really get into the music. It's the only concept album by Klaatu, and their only true Masterpiece. 'Hope' has so many things to say and the story the album tells is one of my favorite stories ever told. It presents very rich sounds out of every song and every movement. There is not one point in the album that I find dull. If you have not heard this album before, I suggest you give it a spin.

'We're off you Know' starts the album off on a light and bouncy side. It captures the beginning of the story well and the whole concept of 'hope', and will need to be remembered come the end of the album, when hope is needed. 'Madman' is more of a rocking riff song, and being the shortest song on the album is only here for a taste of what's to come later.

'Around the Universe in 80 Days' is my favorite song written by Klaatu, and starts the journey of the true story of the album. It sounds similar to 'Little Neutrieno' from their first album, which is fine for me. It's a very mellow drifty song that feels like you're travailing around the Universe. In 'Long Life Politzania' we start to see the story unfold, giving us a setting and history of what happened to this poor planet. It follows 'Madman's rockish feel at times, and exhibits the first song's bounce at times, while capturing 'Around the Universe's mellowness.

Then we enter the second half of the album, three songs blended into one in a very "Back in NY City- Hairless Heart-Counting out time" feel from 'The Lamb' by Genesis. 'The Loneliest of Creatures' is a very nice soft song, getting into the minds of those in the story and introducing the milestone character of story 'The lighthouse Keeper'. 'Prelude' has everything a good middle song needs: great sounds, great changes, covering all emotions and a marching band! At one point I swear it sounds like an electric violin. It provides enough uplift and atmosphere to change from 'The Loneliest of Creatures' to 'So said the Lighthouse Keeper'. This song is the key of the story of the album and we learn all there is to know of this Kurtz like figure (It's from Heart of Darkness). This is the song that brings it all together, keeping in touch with the mellow atmosphere and hard riffs theme that was presented in 'Madman' and 'Long Live Politzania'.

Then we come to 'Hope'; the final Lament of the Lighthouse Keeper. His final words and final wish left for all to find. You really can capture a whole essence of the story and album in the one word. This brings the album and story to an end and with it the beauty it presented.

A true masterpiece; never to be repeated by the band. If I were to pick one story from an album to turn into a movie, this would be it. Just remember the last and final word of the Lighthouse Keeper, and keep Hope.

mothershabooboo | 5/5 |

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