SYNOPSIS

SYNOPSIS was a mostly two-man project that began and ended with the release of the album SYNOPSIS for the Melodiya label in 1986. The music here will mostly appeal to fans of 80s progressive rock, and ambient electronic music. The 8 tracks tend to alternate between upbeat 80s YES and JETHRO TULL-influenced progressive rock, and darker, mellower, ambient electronica. Overall, I tend to think that this music was geared to an older crowd. The melodies tend to have that "safe" quality common in modern jazz, and new age music. This CD is worth checking out if you're looking for something relaxing.

The only album of Estonian band contains interesting mix of live guitar and percussion sound mixed with many synth/keys/electronic effects. Surprisingly, the music isn't too commercial, and possibly has some similarity with later Yes works.

Band's roots are in late 70-s, but early materials were never released. Synopsis was disbanded for some years, and re-formed in mid 80-s. They still saved heavy guitar solos, some drumming and many jazz rock elements from their early period, but new electronic sounds are filled bigger part of their music now. Happily, all keyboards and synthesizers used sound very competent, and never gave synth-pop feeling ( what is big progress for mid 80-s). Band's music ,even being mellow, melodic and easy accessible, still saved high musical standard.

This music possibly could be interesting to fans of later Yes and symphonic prog bands with strong synth element in their music. Surprisingly, this album could be placed between better works of this genre.

Really 3,5.

With a pretty popular name among Prog bands, this act came from Talinn, Estonia, led by keyboardist Igor Garsnek and guitarist Nevil Blumberg, who joined the band in 1978, a year after its formation.Several members passed through the line-up of Synopsis, before the band folded in 1981 with most of the members moving on to form the Pop Rock band Mahavok.Blumberg joined Jazz-Rockers Radar, but in 1984 he reunited with Garsnek to continue the legend of Synopsis as a duo.They recorded a sole, self-titled album with former bandmate Raul Vaigla on bass, Valdeko Puulinn on recorder and K.Saarma on sequencer.The album came out in 1986 on Melodyia, at a time when the collaboration of Blumbers and Garsnek had again faded.

We are talking about mid-80's here and releasing such an artistic work with a bit of vintage sensibilities is quite spectacular in my books.To desribe what is going on in this album is not easy, I would say that ''Synopsis'' relies somewhere between Progressive Electronic and Fusion, an original amalgam of sounds and sights, which is mainly dominated by Garsnek synth ambiences and layers, supported by the accurate and often melodic guitar plays of Blumberg, which have a slight CAMEL undertone.Some of the tracks contain archaic drives played on recorders, supported by light electric runs and the omnipresent layers on synthesizers, recalling compatriots IN SPE.Other tracks are closer to New Age, featuring peaceful guitar chords, effects and keyboards, somewhat reminiscent of MIKE OLDFIELD, while ''Romantic ballad'' has even a slightly symphonic atmosphere with cinematic edges.After several listenings the quality of this release stands on a high level and the limited flaws are less disturbing.These come from some synthetic tunes, which remind of the dark days of 80's PINK FLOYD or ALAN PARSONS PROJECT, characterized by uninteresting guitar leads and weak keyboard moves.Fortunately the atmospheric tracks with the dreamy synth flashes and the great guitar work are far too many and overcome the shadow of the aforementioned tunes.

Garsnek and Blumberg would reunite for a brief period in 1988 as members of Ruja, before going separate ways.Blumberg formed his own, short-lived group, the Nevil Blumberg Band, while Grasnek became a member of Data.

Unique mix of electronic sounds and Fusion instrumentals with a mellow mood and occasional bombastic breaks.Suffers a bit from period sounds, but this is quite genuine music as a whole.Recommended.