ETERNITY

This limited fan site release is a real eye-opener. It's composed of tracks from the early days. When I heard this I was hesitant but hopeful. This is more prog: this is great.

Amplified 99 kicks off the album with a rip-roaring blast. If U2 did prog they'd probably sound like this. This will also appeal to those who like the heavier side of amplifier. Area 51 opens with distorted guitar (hints of the feel of Airbone) and develops into the relaxed and eerie feel that is unmistakably Amplifier.

The Ways of Amplifier is personal favourite. It ahs a mesmeric sliding & gliding bass pulsing throughout. It may divide opinion as there is not the complexity in other songs, but for me the feel is perfect.

My Corrosion is entirely different. Electronic drums, synth. A hazy lazy Floydian vibe. Tremendous. Departure Lounge shows a major Floydian influence. Vocals are much more Floyd, and the lyrics almost psychedelic. There's no great crescendo, the gentle, spaced mood is retained. Number One Son continues the mood.. There's even a bit of a bluesy wah-wah break.

This is amplifier but not as we know it.

If you own one amplifier album & you can get your hands on this one: don't hesitate - it's a gem. It is more authentically prog than the "later" albums.

I feel very fortunate to own all six AMPLIFIER studio albums but I'm even more excited about owning two of their EPs. The first "The Astronaut Dismantles Hal" at over 38 minutes because it was the only thing I owned by them for a long time so it became important. "Eternity" because it's simply the best record I own by this band. It was released in 2009 and thankfully had a re-issue in 2014 when I picked it up. Six songs over 36 minutes and it couldn't be much better to be honest.

"Amplified 99" is a great opener with plenty of energy, catchy too. "Come on and let yourself go." Heavy stuff. "Area 51" is such a cool track with experimental sounds to open and close it. Another killer tune with great vocals. Love when they amp it up each time. "The Ways of Amplifier" has a spacey start then the heaviness rolls in with some attitude in those vocals. Intense, especially after 3 minutes. "My Corrosion" is my favourite. It just doesn't sound like them with the synths? dancing like flute over top as what sounds like processed laughter comes and goes. Who knows? Then organ floods the soundscape. So different but it works to perfection. The warmth, the emotion, just too much. "Departure Lounge" sounds like a PINK FLOYD track from "Division Bell" quite ballad-like with the vocals going up at the end of the sentence at times like Gilmour does it once in a while. My least favourite yet I really dig this tune. "Number One Son" has such an anthemic way to end it repeating those lines over and over. Again it's just different opening with him saying "It's all about balance, it's all about discipline" in a fragile, processed sounding voice. Yeah I think of my only son a lot when listening to this one. So proud!

Four written reviews all 5 stars. I think that says it all.