PAWN HEARTS

The first time I heard Pawn Hearts it was 6 years ago.Back then I was a devoted follower of Pink Floyd and King Crimson and I thought with the poor mind that I had listen to the epitome of Progressive music.BIG MISTAKE.That album its not for the faint-hearted or for easy listeners.I read many reviews which all lead to the same point,its not accessible.You have to listen to it carefully and many times to start realising what is going on.After that it will reveal its secrets as a great result of imagination,creativity and excellent production.This album consists of 3 tracks in the initial form and 8 in the remastered form.The album begins with the sinister LEMMINGS with a soft guitar riff that does leads to the heights with David Jackson`s and Hugh Bunton`s battling chord riffs resulting in a chaotic interlude combined with the frenzy drumming pace of Guy Evans and the colorful voice of Peter Hammill.A true epic followed by the melancholic and more accessible MAN-ERG with the soft piano and its jazzy touch though in the middle of the way it brokes into pieces with that question Am I really me or someone else? with Hammill`s voice desperate asking for answers.The last track of the album is the famous A PLAGUE OF LIGHTHOUSE KEEPERS a 23-minute odyssey of spiritual agony and finally relief.Divided into 10 parts each one melting smoothly into the other with the exception of The Clot Thickens a personal race (with God?) for answers to be given right here,and after that the beautiful conclusion of Land`s End closing this brilliant piece in hope.The remastered edition of the album has 5 bonus tracks Theme One and W two single that appeared also in the box-set and 3 of the band members' personal projects, each one written by a member of the group.Robert Fripp participate in the guitar as a fifth unofficial member. I would suggest buying this record for it is a vital piece of the prog rock scene and the remastered edition gives you the chance to listen to all its glory correcting the small mistakes of the previous editions.

P.S.Listen to it with a good pair of headphones.It`s a true Apocalypse