CURTAINS

This is an excellent album of newer prog: a mix of shorter tracks, that remind the listener of Kansas, along with longer tracks more similar to mid/late 70s Yes or Genesis. There are plenty of extended instrumental passages with all the tasty things that prog fans love: big symphonic keyboards, excellent guitars, and tricky time signatures.

Some rather old fashion prog. It will remind you of Starcastle, but who cares. The voice is just like Geddy Lee (RUSH) in the old days. Who am I to say that everything was better in the past when they are able to bring the past to the future. Really fresh in the techno prog storm off these days.

Second (and last) offering of this neo-prog band which repertoire is fully reminsciment of "Genesis" as well as "Yes" (the latter being a new feature of their work).

Their debut album showed some interesting music for old and nostalgic freaks like me. Their epic "An Imp's Tale" was a complete "Supper's Ready" rip off but not too bad a song. In this album, songs are shorter and I couldn't find any which was really appealing to my ears.

All this music is too predictable, it lacks in harmony. They have it all done with thier debut album and even if this one was released three years later, no inspiration came to feed their brains. "Crucible" totally fails in releasing a fair work.

Poor neo-prog pop. Lots of keys, high pitched vocals and scrace guitar breaks. Emotion is not available in this offering. Fortunately, it is a short album (I told you they were short of ideas).

Don't expect anything great. Even if the closing number "Curtains" saves the whole and finally offers some good moments. It is probably the most YesSong of all. It is a long instrumental number in which keys and guitar are nicely balanced and echoe one to each other. By far the best song.

This album is not very useful. Stick to their debut one which was more diversified and closer to their model than this one which is close to nothing. I can imagine why so few people did review this work.

Two stars for this below average work. I am still looking for any symphonic relation to their work. This is pure neo-prog music.

As I said many times and will say many times in future, I don't believe in this "everything sounds like Genesis, Yes, Camel" and few others myth. Because it does not sound like these. My threshold is probably hell high in the skies, so my point of view on this interesting, even not as good as their other album band is very positive. I'm finding new melodies, new structures, new patterns and in general, original impression it's making on me. Quite short for an album from 2001, but maybe they lacked ideas. It's somehow clear to see( and hear, both on cover and their sound) that sometimes, their sound lacks something important (Nuclear Apathy, too repetitive, without being thrilling song, it's prominent this way), but as I said, mostly it's not catastrophe.

4(-), decent Neo-Prog, not as good as Tall Tales, but still good. For me, so probably also for you. I consider current rating (3.17) quite unfair for them, as they have more to offer than as rating implies.

Here's another album that's been a pleasant surprise for me. American band CRUCIBLE put out two albums in their career and this is the second one called "Curtains". Instrumentally we get a GENESIS flavour but with the vocalist sounding nothing like Gabriel or Collins I sure wouldn't call them a clone band. Some mellotron on 4 of the tracks as well.

"The Swordplayer" opens with piano before the bass and drums joins in as the organ and guitar come and go. Vocals after 3 minutes. Mellotron after 5 minutes. Nice guitar solo after 6 1/2 minutes with organ. "I'd Rather Walk" opens with drums and guitar before the vocals then organ and chunky bass join in. Another guitar solo in this one as well. "A Man Of Two Minds" has a beat with vocals. I like the instrumental section that ends before 3 minutes.

"Noble Rot" opens with piano and vocals. Organ and guitar follow. Lots of piano in the middle. Very GENESIS-like after 3 minutes. "Nucleur Apathy" is a CRACK IN THE SKY cover. Strummed guitar and reserved vocals early. It kicks in with organ and drums 2 minutes in. I like the intricate guitar before 4 1/2 minutes, it reminds me of KING CRIMSON's "Discipline". "World's Apart" is mellow with reserved vocals, light drums and piano before it gets fuller. Contrasts continue. "Curtains" is the closing 9 1/2 minute instrumental and it's a good one at that.

3.5 stars for this one.Their debut is even better.

Thier second offer and aswell the swansong of this promising band , from 2001 named Curtains. Well, this is in same manner composed as previous one, but less adventurous in my opinion. Again Genesis meets Rush but melted with thier own ideas. Still plenty of great moments here like opening track The Swordplayer, Noble rot, the cover art of another good '70 american prog band Crack the sky - Nuclear apathy very uptempo and wel performed and the final one the title track a great and fresh instrumental piece. Not a bad album at all, but is not fantstic overall, the band is still in great shape but with all that the pieces are not catchy enough to give the same stars as on their debute, 3 stars, maybe 3.5 in places. Good album that turns to be the final chapter for this discret and quite unnoticed band.