HOPE

It's actually quite interesting how much this album has divided the opinion between progressive rock fans and the mainstream audiences that Klaatu had acquired after the release of their debut album. Maybe it's because most listeners expected the followup album to be more of the same while the band went the ambitious route of creating a concept album and incorporating a symphonic orchestra into the arrangements. The musical approach to Hope might be seen as a continuation of Days Of Future Passed, released a decade after the ground breaking 1967 record's glory days. It's really quite a pity that the audiences attention to these type of ambitious projects began to fade in this new age of punk music revolution since Hope is quite the masterpiece in its own right.

It doesn't really matter if you find the concept aspect of the music appealing since it's the music that does most of the talking here and there are quite a few highlights to pick from! The album starts with another quirky flirt with the Beatles sound on We're Off You Know, but that's pretty much all that we get of this previously well established approach. Madman is where we get introduced to the symphonic direction that Klaatu was aiming for with Hope and even if those results can be considered a bit shaky by some, Around The Universe In 80 Days is where they deliver the goods. This is one of the many wonderful symphonic ballads that make up the bulk of this concept album and if you're like me then this would pretty much be the definition of essential masterpiece right here!

Long Live Politzania is the longest composition here and it might feel a bit alienating at first, due to the different section that the music goes through leading up to the anthem-like conclusion, just give it time and it will grow on you. Side two is my favorite of the two since this is where we get the sad and beautiful epilogue to the story and compositions like The Loneliest Of Creatures and So Said The Lighthouse Keeper really make it a pompous journey there. Everything culminates with the title track, which wasn't originally a huge favorite of mine but the repeated listens managed to solve this minor problem.

Hope is pretty much a perfect concept album that got the unfair treatment due to the fact that it was released at the time when prog music was pretty much out of the picture for most people and so not many have had the chance to experience this magical release. Luckily it's magnitude has not been lost in time and it still remains a great piece of symphonic prog music that I strongly recommend to everyone who cares to listen!

***** star songs: We're Off You Know (4:02) Around The Universe In 80 Days (5:00) The Loneliest Of Creatures (3:45) So Said The Lighthouse Keeper (5:51) Hope (4:44)

**** star songs: Madman (2:39) Long Live Politzania (9:12) Prelude (5:45)

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