THE BEST OF SKY

As a fan of classical guitar I bought the wonderful album "Together" from the virtuosic classical guitar duo Julian Bream and John Williams in the late Seventies. Soon after I discovered that John Williams had founded a kind of super progrock formation entitled Sky featuring Herbie Flowers on bass and tuba (toured with David Bowie and did sessions with Lou Reed and T Rex), Francis Monkman on keyboards (played in Curved Air and did sessions with The Shadows and Kate Bush), Kevin Peek on guitars (did sessions with Lulu, Neil Diamond, Rick Wakeman, Alan Parsons Project and Cliff Richard) and Tristan Fry on drums. Their eponymous debut album was recorded in the famous Abbey Road Studios and released in 1979 by Ariola. This was the only record company that wanted to take the risk to embrace a progressive rock band because other record companies had the idea that there was no room among ELP, Genesis, Mike Oldfield and Yes in the late Seventies. Sky was launched as "five of the most respected musicians on earth in Sky", nice pun. The band was a success, both commercialy (I and II went platinum) as on stage, all their concerts were sold-out! And in 1985 even keyboard wizard Rick Wakeman joined the band on tour in Australia. I have seen Sky two times and both concerts were not only a very impressive and varied musical event but also humorous although you have to be up to the typical, a bit snobbish British jokes.

This compilation is a good starter to this overlooked and underrated band, often nailed as 'edel-kitsch'. OK, they could sound a bit sweet and romantic to some progheads but in general Sky made a very entertaining progressive blend of several styles, from classical and jazz to rock and symphonic. On this CD the renditions of classical pieces sound pleasant and dynamic like "Toccata" (exciting 'classical rock' featuring splendid harpsichord, drums and bass interplay, embellished by classical guitar and synthesizer flights), "Danza" (first duo-classical guitar, then sparkling harpsichord and howling electric guitar), "Gavotte & variations" (excellent, great build-up solo piece on harpsichord) and "Ride of the Valkyries" (fiery electric guitar and sparkling piano).

The own compositions by Sky feature their trademark like the dynamic and alternating "Sahara" (blend of classical and rock delivering howling electric guitar and warm piano and acoustic guitar), "El cielo" (exciting encounter between acoustic and electric: quick Spanish guitar runs and slow, majestic Oberheim synthesizer flights) and "Meheeco" (swinging contrabass and lots of subtle shifting moods and a lush instrumentation with piano, harpsichord and acoustic guitar). Another captivating track is "Vivaldi" from Francis Monkman his ex-band Curved Air: first howling electric guitar and harpsichord, then a bombastic climated featuring dynamic drums and sensitive, often fiery electric guitar work. IF YOU ARE UP TO SOME CLASSICAL SOUNDING PROG, THIS IS AN INTERESTING BAND!