REFUGEE

The Storyline is like this: Keith Emerson leaves The Nice and forms ELP. The rest of The Nice recruits the Swiss genious Patrick Moraz some years later. The result is this album and a live album.

I believe Refugee was casting some glances over towards ELP and the instant success they got. This because The Nice in the form of Refugee moved towards the same territory. If possible, I feel Refugee is more jazzy and baroque classical influenced than ELP. More symphonic than ELP in other words. Patrick Moraz is the main difference here. But both Lee Jackson and Brian Davison is given free reigns here and they really produce the goods. But this album will mostly be remembered as the Moraz showpiece. And this is fully deserved. Patrick Moraz really dominates this album with his superb tangents. Either on piano, moog or synths. His fluent play is an absolute treat here.

The major gripe with this music is the lack of a real signature track. At least ELP had some really moments of sheer brilliance on their albums. This album has none. But it is still very good with some excellent details. The other problem is Lee Jackson's vocals which in Refugee too is pretty awful. No developments from The Nice, in other words. But the vocals is not pushed in the forefront on this Patrick Moraz dominated album so it is not a major issue.

The quality is pretty good and this is clearly an album all ELP fans will love. I am a fan myself and I really like this album. It is most definate one of the best ELP-like albums out there. This is an excellent album.

3.75 points