THE SNOW GOOSE

The Snow Goose is a gorgeous display of melodic prog bliss, and I mean it. Every single melody across this record is memorable, but what I increasingly love with each spin of the album are the really subtly complex symphonic arrangements that set the stage for the band to play on top of. On top of the aforementioned onslaught of melody throughout, there's also a great contrast between the grand celebratory passages full of blissful interplay and groove, but also the soft, somber and intimate interludes. From the driving flute and organ led Rhayader, it immediately hits the ground running, but for me the album reaches it's two greatest peaks in the title track, and closer La Princesse Perdue where it ties everything back together in beautiful fashion. For me this record almost has a nostalgic feel to it, almost as if I've known these songs my whole life. I also have to give a nod to the super psychedelic and electronic Preparation and Epitaph, some real ear candy sounds and experimentation going on between those two tracks. Peter Bardens brings forth some really awesome and crunchy synth tones as well, which is very much worth a mention. Overall, a classic of the genre and an album that has earned it's title as a masterpiece. There's something for everyone here, there's symphonic arrangements, jazzy undertones, electronica, folk, and it's a great and easy album to just throw on and have a ton of fun with.

5 Stars