THE LOST FRONTIER
XII Alfonso
•Symphonic Prog
From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website
![]() Good, but non-essential Write a review |
Studio Album, released in 1996 Songs / Tracks Listing 1. Hadrian's wall overture (5:08) - Philippe Claerhout / guitars Edit this entry |
Buy XII ALFONSO The Lost Frontier Music
![]() | The Lost Frontier Musea 2003 | $36.00 |
More places to buy XII ALFONSO music online
- DOUG LARSON IMPORTS — Buy prog rock music and rarities (Free shipping on orders over 10 cds)
- AmazonMP3: Search for XII ALFONSO DRM-Free MP3 Downloads @ Amazon.com MP3
- Try Amazon Prime Music (30-day free trial)
XII ALFONSO The Lost Frontier ratings distribution
(31 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(10%)
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(26%)
Good, but non-essential (55%)
Collectors/fans only (10%)
Poor. Only for completionists (0%)
XII ALFONSO The Lost Frontier reviews
Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings
Collaborators/Experts Reviews
PROG REVIEWER

SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator

The album is mostly instrumental apart from three vocal tracks featuring singer Caroline Lafue and evoking 'Mostly Autumn'. The tracks are linked by sound snippets that evoke the history of the 'Wall Of Hadrien' and it's region : riding horses,roman soldiers in a tavern (?),a descent into a coal mine, a train, evoking together with the titles more or less the history of this part of Scotland.
'XII Alfonso' plays on this record a gentle form of melodic prog with celtic influences.The melodic material is quite poor, most tracks lack tension and over the top the programmed synth layers sound thin and cheasy, especially the bag pipes 'imitation' on 'Back to Northumberland'. The best moments on the record are the acoustic tracks like 'Lazy day in Haltwhistle ' or ' Another day in Haltwhistle' for solo acoustic guitar, reminding Anthony Phillipps athmospheric playing or 'Wheels of change' with a jazz influenced solo lead guitar and nice flute playing. The weakest tracks are 'Heath ' & 'Revival' approaching new-age muzac.
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator

The music is pretty much laid back with scarce electric outbursts and mostly relaxed themes with an intense Celtic flavor.Their sound is pretty diverse and varied in these 16 short compositions,going from melodic electric passages to piano-based instrumentals and light keyboard-driven symphonic introductions.There is a heavy OLFIELD-ian atmposhere dominating the album with all these different instruments and influences mixed together in a generally soft progressive package.Actually the guitar work (and not only) reminds me of MINIMUM VITAL,though in a much more melodic presentation.What is quite clear are the strong doses of pleasant Celtic melodies (with some fine blending of acoustic parts with accordeon,pipes and flutes) and the tons of elegant acoustic guitars,trying to create a nostalgic climate.Notice also the ethereal female vocals,which are one of the highest points of this release.
Lovers of electric sounds will be pretty much dissapointed by ''The lost frontier''.However,both fans of MIKE OLDFIELD and laid-back but almost symphonic music will propably like this a lot.An interesting first step for the band.
PROG REVIEWER

I can't find lots of thrilling moments in here. The whole of this album sounds quite flat, with little expression. Even the few vocal passages are not helping too much. It is just an average breakthrough. Some Hackett moments ("Lazy Day In Haltwhistle") are of course enjoyable but won't make it my day.
No great songs, no highlights, no passion. This album is just a succession of average prog tracks: decent acoustic guitar, decent keyboards, decent? you name it! But, frankly, I just expect more than decent from a professional band.
Inspiration seems out of steam after a short while and I am quite reluctant in terms of rating this album. Five of out of ten. Reduced to two stars. No more.
Latest members reviews
Almost seventy two minutes of instrumental symphonic prog bordering to new age music is far too
much for me. The use of fourteen musicians also speaks volumes about the level of ambitions from this
band on this, their debut album. The lyrics about the Borders and Norththumberland district in Eng
... (read more)
Report this review (#202074) | Posted by toroddfuglesteg | Sunday, February 8, 2009 | Review Permanlink
This album turned out to be a lot less than I had expected from the artwork. The songs
are pleasant and unobtrusive. When Caroline LaFue is singing, I am reminded of mellow
Mostly Autumn and Magenta at their simplest. The music is extremely well played,mostly
because the songs are quite simpl
... (read more)
Report this review (#83636) | Posted by BGrosjean | Thursday, July 13, 2006 | Review Permanlink
Post a review of XII ALFONSO "The Lost Frontier "
You must be a forum member to post a review, please register here if you are not.
MEMBERS LOGIN ZONE
As a registered member (register here if not), you can post rating/reviews (& edit later), comments reviews and submit new albums.
You are not logged, please complete authentication before continuing (use forum credentials).