IN A MOMENT OF COMPLETE MADNESS

I will admit upfront that I am a big fan of these lads and love all of their music including "In A Momen Of Complete Madness" which is essentially an "Odds and Sods" collection of early GALAHAD tunes. Songs are sharp, well written and performed with that mistakable GALAHAD touch. For those who are not all that familiar with GALAHAD's music you will find strong symphonic atmospheres with precision playing never getting too loud or out of touch with the listener. Stu Nicholson has one of today's best vocals (my opinion) and sings with a childish flavor (not unlike GABRIEL's approach with GENESIS). Although a collection of songs over their early days, "In A Moment..." has always been a treasure jem in my collection waiting to be re-discovered each time. . . Essential all the way around

Got this one by accident. Been bored to death with the first half (mostly 4-min long pompous songs cloning H's MARILLION), but the further I've been getting the better things I was hearing. Last tracks - epics mainly - are filled with changing themes and wonderful melodies every Neo-progger would appreciate. Another note - singer's voice. Very clear and trembling, reminding of best Neo examples, very good in fact! This one is not recommended generally (also due to lame artwork ;) ), but it made me interested in other albums by that band. Should check them out...if I'd chance to.

This album is a collection of old (to very old) songs from the band.

The first five songs from this record were originally taped on cassette in 1989. The popish and very average opening has little to do with prog and is frankly weak. "Second Life" and "Parade" holds more of what the neo-prog genre has to offer but both are really candid, yet optimistic. Very accessible prog, maybe too much even if these two are enjoyable tracks.

What I like the most are the fine vocals available here. Of course, Stuart Nicholson might not have a wide range of abilities but his joyful tone of voice conveys such a positive feeling that I am charmed. He reminds me of Martin Wilson from "Grey Lady Down", even if musically the latter band was much more interesting IMO.

"Lady Messiah" is more elaborate. Almost ten minutes of theme changes, weird parts, heavy keys and a strange mood is felt during the second part. Almost chaotic and disjointed. Totally different than what has been available so far. "Painted Lady" (less than two minutes) as well as "Ghost Of Durtal" were already recorded back in . 1985, while "Welcome To Paradise" saw the light in 1987. In these days, the band was covering songs such as "Whole A Lotta Love", "Tocatta" and "Garden Party". Quite different styles.I guess they didn't really know which direction to head for.

The longest track of this album also sounds experimental at times (like "Lady Messiah"). But I believe that this band is not really in his shoes while playing this sort of music. Still, "Ghost Of Durtal" is one of the best stuff available on this record. Vocals again convert this song into a really charming one. Scary middle part during which one can listen some "ghosts" talking and an emotional finale are peppering this good song.

The closing number "Welcome To Paradise" also ranges to the good category. It is my fave from this album. Very much Genesis oriented, efficient Nicholson again, surrounded by church organ and convincing guitar play. As you can see, this album holds some nice songs: the longest ones (three but clocking at almost thirty minutes). Five out of ten would be reasonable but I'll upgrade it to three stars thanks to Welcome.

Two stars.

Lost in nostalgia (but look to the future)

While 1991's Nothing Is Written was Galahad's first proper release, the band had been around since 1985 and recorded a demo cassette in the late 80's entitled In A Moment Of Madness. The present album appeared in 1993 and contained re-recorded versions of the songs from that old cassette plus some other of the band's earliest compositions. The title, In A Moment Of Complete Madness, is thus very appropriate (and not because the music is completely crazy!). After just one proper album released, then, Galahad were already celebrating their own past with this second album and In A Moment Of Complete Madness thus constituted a step back rather than a step forward for the band. Keeping this in mind, the line "lost in nostalgia, but look to the future" in the chorus of the opening song is very apt.

Nothing Is Written had been a fine debut that showed some of the band's inherent potential, but we would have to wait until the band's third album, 1995's Sleepers, to have that potential fulfilled. The music found on the present album is mostly lightweight Prog with some poppy tendencies. The electronic sounds and hard edged guitars of future releases are still far away at this point. The band's characteristic sound had not yet been developed on these early tunes and overall they come across as rather anonymous here. Though very pleasant, even Stuart Nicholson's voice, that on other releases is very strong and distinctive, comes across as a bit tame and timid here.

I might perhaps be a bit harsher here than actually justified as these are all more than decent songs that constitute an overall pleasant if undemanding listen, but there is nothing that stands out as great. In A Moment Of Complete Madness is thus an enjoyable listen, but it is probably best seen as a release whose purpose was to keep the fans happy while waiting for the next proper album that eventually surfaced in 1995. Sleepers finally established Galahad as a force to be reckoned with. (But we shouldn't forget the very appealing semi-acoustic 1994 release called Not All There by Galahad Acoustic Quintet that sounds entirely different from anything by Galahad proper).

My version of In A Moment Of Complete Madness contains three live bonus tracks. The first of these is a nice live version of Ghost Of Durtal from this very album and the second is a live recording of the best song from Nothing Is Written called Richelieu's Prayer. The final track is a cover of Genesis' The Knife followed by the band's own One For The Road.

Entering the 90's,Galahad were trying to escape from the underground scene.Their debut was even released in Japan through Pony Canyon with insert lyrics and a bio in Japanese.In January 92' they release the superb archive recordings ''Other Crimes and Misdemeanours'' from their early phase,a nice example of the raw British early neo progressive movement, and manage to tour in Europe in August/September of the same year.Work did not stop here.In May 1993 they release their 1989 cassette ''In a moment of madness'' on CD format under the title ''In A Moment Of Complete Madness'' with three extra tracks from the early period.

The tracks from the original cassette (1-5) are typical examples of an accesible type of Neo Prog with definite MARILLION and RUSH influences,like the catchy opener,which also features some grandiose guitars and keys around the middle.''Second life'' is exactly how RUSH sounded in late-70's,an energetic heavy rocker with nice breaks.''Parade'' is on par with early MARILLION,though less dark and impressive,but ''Earth rhythm'' is a quite bad groove with cheap synth work and far from the band's spirit.''Lady messiah'' isn't much better despite its length,decent Neo Prog with some cliche breaks,saved by the good finale.

The three extra tracks will save this album from total mediocrity.The short and acoustic ''Painted Lady'' shows how sensational Stuart Nicholson's voice is.''Ghost of Durtal'' is an unreleased epic and it is quite a surprise how this magnificent song escaped from a previous official recording.Excellent modern Symphonic Prog with hints from both MARILLION- era's,alternating atmospheres,shifting guitar work and superb keys all the way with a splendind ending.''Welcome to Paradise'' is even better,fantastic prog with classical influences and unique performance by Nicholson on vocals and Kark Garrett on church organ.Simply a masterpiece!

''In A Moment Of Complete Madness'' is a bit uneven,the more dynamic first tracks will please only fans of Neo Prog or Pop/Prog,but the three remaining extra numbers are absolutely fascinating modern Symphonic rock,which anyone should listen to.Not essential,but certainly recommended,especially for the last two grand compositions.