GAUDI

This album was a good surprise for me, more consistent and proggier than most of their 80´s stuff. I agree with SouthSideOfTheSky when he says this is an underrated work. Gaudi follows after the good Stereotomy and ends the APP saga with much dignity.

This is a concept album about the life and works of the famous catalan architect Antonio Gaudi (1852-1926). There are some line up changes with long time bassist/vocalist David Patton gone and vocalist Chris Rainbow absent (he is not credit as lead singer in none of the six tracks, something that never happened before. Maybe he did some backing vocals). But the rest are here. even if this is the album Alan Parsons himself was less involved musically.

The first three tracks are great ones: La Sagrada Familia is probably one of APP´s best, in all its 8 minutes. Stading On A Higher ground is a bit too derivative and Money Talks is the only real let down on the entire CD (although the guitar parts are excellent). The album´s quality rises again with the last two, the fine Inside Looking Out and the brilliant instrumental Paseo De Gracia (another highlight). As usual the production is spotless and Andrew Powell´s orchestrations are excellent.

Conclusion: one of the best APP´s latter day albums. Not as brilliant as their 70´s stuff, of course, but very fine anyway. 3,5 stars.