TALES FROM A FORGOTTEN WORLD

This modern symphonic group prioritizes the melodic and gentle side of the sub genre. Although from Brazil, TEMPUS FUGIT is so infused with the British masters and apprentices that the Latin influences are indeed subtle if present. Their debut is not "challenging" in any sense, but is wistful and ultimately happy, with plenty of smooth shifts of mood and instrumentation, primarily synthesizers offset with other keys, and electric and acoustic guitars. Vocals are rare, appearing in less than half the tracks, but the music is colourful and indeed lyrical enough to carry the fantastical, if vague, themes.

For reference, apart from the big symphonic names, I hear ELOY, particularly the luscious "Planets" era in "Bornera"; the Bahrain group OSIRIS for the extended but controlled jams; RENAISSANCE in the piano rolls of "The City and the Crystal"; and even neo prog a la PENDRAGON on the more vocal oriented pieces like "Song for a Distant Land". TEMPUS FUGIT also reminds me of a less manic and more instrumentally oriented version of the Mexican group CAST.

It's hard to pick out high points and even harder to underline any weaknesses other than perhaps a general lack of distinctiveness, but the material is so uniformly strong that I have to give it a thumbs up, and "The Goblin's Trail" and "Princess Vanessa" can be lapped up eagerly by any sentimental old fool who wants the old style with modern production. "The Lord of a Thousand Tales" amply fills the role of symphonic epic, with something for everyone and everything for more than a few.

If you have read this far and don't have this album, time is flying so why not set aside some for these tales before they really are forgotten.