SQUARE THE CIRCLE

Rousseau´s third album came four years after their third, Retreat, and although in the same vein as the previous one, Square The Circle is a little better efford. The guitars have slightly more bite, the keyboards are more symphonic and the songwriting is stronger. Ok, it have some flaws: the vocal tracks are not in the same league as the instrumental ones. Fade Away for exemple is quite cheesy, the crooning vocals taking this bossa nova-like song completely out of place here. Fortunatly such mistakes are few. Most of the time the music is quite pleasing, mellow and pastoral. I loved the flutes and the guitar parts

Again what surprises me the most is the fact that this band released such obvious prog album during the 80´s (even if some synths do remind of that era´s sound). The album is quite varied and sometimes it works against them (the old impression of hearing different bands in one CD, you know). But in general feeling is good. Certainly they have talent and they are all skilfull musicians. Production is also very good for the time.

My feeling is that this band never reached its full potential (too many line up changes, maybe?) nor had the opportunity to be heard by the right audience in its day. The timing seems to be wrong. But still they left some real fine stuff for us to discover. if you like melodic symphonic prog (sometimes in the neo prog vein) then Square The Circle is recommended. Another obscure prg gem that I´m glad to find. Rating: somewhere between 3,5 and 4 stars.