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Happy The Man - Crafty Hands CD (album) cover

CRAFTY HANDS

Happy The Man

 

Eclectic Prog

3.89 | 264 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

greenback
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
5 stars Happy the man is probably the best American progressive rock band of the 70's: the band generously incorporates fusion elements. Extremely well structured, this record is dynamic, rhythm changing, very funny and very complex. The synchronization of all the instruments is absolutely outstanding: actually "Happy the man" are the KINGS of synchronization! The trip involved is very intellectual, but, unlike Gentle Giant, it can also be quite relaxing and sentimental. The disciplined saxophone is very present, and the keyboards can be very floating and atmospheric, often right in the middle of extremely loaded and nervous patterns. Despite the use of perfectly balanced vintage keyboards like clavinet, piano, Fender Rhodes and moog, the overall sound is surprisingly modern, mainly because of the fresh & atmospheric floating keyboards. The electric guitar complexifies the overall textures, a bit like Gary Green does with the Gentle Giant; the guitarist also often uses a very subtle wah-wah effect. The drums & bass are always restless & very sophisticated. Obviously, this music, like Frank Zappa, is almost impossible to be played live, unless you belong to the band! As a comparison, let us say that the Camel's "Eye of the storm" track sounds just a bit similar to this record. There are no weakness on this record! At the listen, it becomes clear that Kit Watkins is one of the best keyboards player ever!!! The band changed the drummer on this record, and the result is another perfect album. The style involved has something to do with Gentle Giant, but it is more romantic and more atmospheric! This music is clinical and nervous, while many times it is smooth and relaxing, and it's extremely well structured. Probably the most structured & synchronized music ever. They seem to play it so easily. This record is certainly among my all-time top 10 albums! I cannot get enough of such albums! There is a bit of quintessence on the second part of "Steaming pipes".

EXTREMELY RECOMMENDED!

greenback | 5/5 |

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