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Focus - Hamburger Concerto CD (album) cover

HAMBURGER CONCERTO

Focus

 

Symphonic Prog

4.25 | 1139 ratings

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voliveira
5 stars If someone asked me to say an album that would best represent the symphonic rock I would say:"Hamburger Concerto". I never heard an album with many influences from classical music, especially Baroque period, as this.Certainly is one of the best things I ever heard in my life!

"Delitae Musicae" is a simple opening track, just guitar and flute. "Harem Scarem" is a pretty and energetic song, demonstrating the quality of band.I must make special mention of the Thijs Van Leer for his incredible ability to touch so many instruments on one album alone! (seems he is trying to compete with Mike Oldifield!). The use of organs on this album is amazing! My favorite section of music is the jam between guitar and flute (when this section is repeated later flute is replaced by the accordion).

"La Cathredal Strasbourg" is a slow and melodic song, equally beautiful, while the next, "Birth" is more complex and efficient.Her opens with a delightful clove, which introduces the main theme of the song, before the between battery and takes us to the main theme again, this time played by all instruments (or nearly all, as members could not play all the instruments at once).The song grows more and more until get a jam who again involving guitar and flute, but each has its moment.

The title track is without a doubt, the magnum-opus of album.Is also the song where is the best guitar and keyboards work.The guitar riffs are killer!I did not expect to find these riffs in 1974! (I actually think the sound of this album is too advanced for its time).Choir Mellotrons really elevate the song, especially the final sequence, where we found a great job of sintetyzers.Van Leer makes a strange vocal work here, including yodeling and falsetto, and I personally think it was desnecessary.No that his voice is bad, I just think that if the album was entirely instrumental it would make no difference to me.However that in no way hinders this musical masterpiece, that flows easily into the listener.The last song, "Early Birth" is rather forgettable, nothing more,but is good.

Upon hearing this album at all, come to one conclusion: these guys burst!'ll hear more of them!

voliveira | 5/5 |

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