REFLECTIONS

'Reflections' is the only Osiris release I know so far, and though it doesn't impress me to the point of turning me speechless, I must say that it's a good recording where the main features are the ellegant layers of keyboards, and the well crafted solos on guitar and synthesizer. Following in a vein similar to TSF/ST-era Camel, Osiris created and performed a modernized symphonic prog parallel to the road that many other 80s neo-prog bands took. Keyboards are prominent here, since the two players handling them usually are in charge of creating stylish atmospheric ambiences upon which the chords played on (other) keyboards and guitar are displayed. The opening track 'Shades of Gray' serves as a perfect sample of Osiris' prog approach - delicate arrangements, pleasant melodies and harmonic bases, predominance of keyboards and occasional guitar bursts. Other notable tracks are 'The Circle' and 'The Prisoner', which keep the same trend while incorporating some tempo and mood twists, tenderly. The former has a sung part and a final instrumental one: the sung part sounds like some sort of mixture of classic Asia and Mike & the Mechanics, while the instrumental part includes a typically neo motif that sounds quite related to 90s Pendragon... although the album was recorded in the 80s. The Pendragon predating thing goes on in 'The Prisoner', albeit bearing a punchier mood during the instrumental interlude, similarly to IQ in the early 80s: these two songs keep me thinking that "Reflections" might as well be a forgotten prog classic. The two instrumental numbers, 'Lost and Found' and 'In the Corner', are my personal faves: the former starts with a simplified hint to Holst's 'Mars', making things a bit tense onwards until the ending, without dropping out the cachiness; the latter is rockier, the most agressive piece of the album actually, with a moderate Emersonian use of organ, a harder use of the guitar, and even a certain fusion-esque touch somewhere in the middle. The last two songs find the band exploring again their poppier side, just like 'The Circle' but without further elaboration. "Reflections" is one of those records that don't need to be magnificient nor overtly original to be enjoyed by those who have a special penchant for good melodic prog: a good addition to any prog collection with room for neo.