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Abraxas - Centurie CD (album) cover

CENTURIE

Abraxas

 

Neo-Prog

3.96 | 115 ratings

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Gatot
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
3 stars If you spin this CD and got the first track rolling in your ears, I believe that you would disagree that this band is a neo prog band because the style is I think much more similar to Italian prog rather than English / Scottish neo prog. In fact, I might say that the opening track "Spiritus Flat Ubi Vult" (3:27) is like After Crying or Banco instead of Pendragon, IQ, Marillion or Pallas. You bet, there are some guitar fills that remind us to the neo prog vein but it is swept by the overall music.

"Michel De Nostredame-Mistrz Z Salon" (6:47) starts wonderfully with a keyboard sounds reminiscent of Procol Harum in modern style. In fact, this second track is very enjoyable - the music flows in relatively medium tempo with tight arrangement, changing tempos and nice melody (aha .. this is a main characteristic of any neo prog band!). The nice combination of guitar, keyboard and bass guitar have made this track so enjoyable. This is also the case with next track with much more accessible style "Velvet" (4:07). It has great acoustic guitar fills as the music flows, augmented with keyboard work which sounds like a clarinet sounds. "Excalibur" (7:44) starts off with an excellent combination of low register notes vocal with piano, brings the music in mellow style augmented with flute-like sound. The interlude part offers good guitar solo.

"Kuznia" (1:49) is a nice symphonic break in relatively fast tempo with good guitar rhythm combined with long sustain organ sounds. Vocal enters in distant voice style. "Czakramy" (10:25) is a slow tempo tune with nice augmentation of acoustic guitar fills. The music moves into a rockin' style at approx minute 6.

"Pokuszenie" (12:00) starts ambient with voice line in relatively silent mode followed with thin synthesizer sounds. The full music then follows in relatively slow tempo with soft guitar riffs and good drumming. The inclusion of flute sounds reminds me to old school prog music. It's a good composition that also includes a narration segment somewhere in the middle of the track just before the music turns up into a more dynamic sounds with a great combination of keyboard and guitar. Some breaks that feature piano solo and vocal are also nice. The guitar solo at the end of the track is really excellent and it's memorable and catchy - the characteristic of neo prog music."Nantalomba" (4:21) concludes this album nicely.

"Centurie" is a good album from Poland's band, Abraxas. For those who like Pendragon, Pallas or IQ might enjoy this album. The only lacking (?) if any is the variation between high and low ppoints which does not seem existed at this album. To me the music tends to sound flat - which is not necessary the case for every neo prog bands. If I compare with Marillion "Script for A Jester's Tear" where there was balanced combination of low point songs like "Chelsea Monday", "Script For A Jester's Tear" and high points like "He Knows You Know" and "Forgotten Sons" . Nevertheless, this is a good album that any neo prog fan should have. Keep on proggin' ..!

Peace on earth and mercy mild, GW

Gatot | 3/5 |

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