WINDCHASE

Second album (please avoid pronouncing the word "opus" when speaking of Hardie, this is way too under-blown to qualify as such) from one of the rare Aussie group that dared developing symphonic prog. Graced with a fairly identical artwork than their debut, the unchanged (standard prog quartet) line-up decided not to change much musically to their ultra-overly-cheesy symphonic formula and unfortunately I will not change much my mind either.

Opening on the "epic" title track, SH starts fairly slow and gradually increase the level of interest button (but apparently it is stuck just at the medium level), and there are short moments where indeed the group reaches the waist level of Yes (although none are even close to their Yes counterparts) as the tracks ends better than it started. Just too derivative for this writer. And the second side doesn't really bring much new to their habitual repertoire of influences as At The End is again derivating from Focus and Finch, but this time not reaching the excellent Openings track from their debut, as clearly they were trying to reproduce theuir Rosana track. Othe three remaining tracks, Phimistar does raise the interest button from boring to the "lending an attentive ear" level, but ultimately the listener's hope are deceived, even if this might be the best track of the album, mainly because of the higher-than-usual energy. The closing (and aptly titled) Peaceful is again based on Focus, but again cannot appear anything more than a pale copy.

With a different rhythm section, the two frontmen Millo and Pilt, will go on to form Windchase (named after their present album), recording one album (atrocious and pretentiously named Symphinity), which remained grosso-modo similar-sounding. Should you want to investigate Aussie prog grandiose (the REAL grandiose, not the ones usually evoked in other reviews), please discover Rainbow Theatre's two superb albums, both of whom trounces, minces, massacres, melts and reduce to a pulp this incredibly cheesy and uninspired group.

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