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AUTUMN

Symphonic Prog • United Kingdom


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Autumn biography
Founded in Portsmouth, UK in 1974 - Disbanded in 1978

Due to the date of release of their only album "Oceanworld" in 1998, anybody could believe AUTUMN is a new band trying to recreate the glorious sound of the pioneers from the 70's, so when a friend lend me their CD, I was expecting some Yes or Genesis wannabes.

Great mistake easily discovered when reading the credits, this band dates from 1974 and was formed by the guitar player Mark Easton who apparently had designed and art cover for Caravan and later made a career in Blues, but only became a real band in 1976 when Nick MAGNUS in the keyboards (Ex Enid who would later join Steve Hackett's staff), Robbie Dobson in the drums (Ex Enid who would later join HAWKWIND) plus Steve Hoff in the bass, in other words, almost a super group that followed the general rule of dream teams becoming a nightmare.

Their style is a product of the era, Punk already had wounded Progressive Rock, but this guys wanted to continue performing the music they loved, but they had to write something softer and less complex than what the pioneers did.

At a first listen they make me remember the style of FOCUS, specially because Mark Easton has obvious Jan Akkerman influences, but there's something from the early brilliance of Genesis provided by atmospheric keyboards of Magnus, the problem is that they seemed to light for the older progheads that were expecting something closer to their early heroes and too complex for a new generation that would later embrace Neo Prog.

In their album they include a booklet that recognizes this, they admit that it was no longer the time for the music they pretended to play and that was the reason why they never were able to release an album and around 1978 - 1979 they split leaving around 40 minutes of music that would only be released 21 years later.

If AUTUMN would have started two years later, probably the history would be different, but that's a prove of how fast things change in the surprising world of music, at least we can enjoy "Oceanworld" a pretty good album ideal for progheads interested in beautiful melodies and the lighter side of Symphonic.

Iván Melgar Morey - Perú

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3.91 | 45 ratings
Oceanworld
1999

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AUTUMN Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Oceanworld by AUTUMN album cover Studio Album, 1999
3.91 | 45 ratings

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Oceanworld
Autumn Symphonic Prog

Review by toroddfuglesteg

4 stars A wonderful English symphonic prog band who sadly only released one album.

Symphonic prog + England = Yes, Genesis and England (the band). Well, normally yes. But in the case of Autumn, I get a lot more Kaipa vibes than the usual fare vibes. In particular the medium period of Kaipa. There is some Scandinavian about this album. Or Swedish to be precise. Something I am pretty sure will come as a surprise to the band. But that is the associations I get from this album. This album is in it's entirety instrumental.

Both electric guitars and tangents is in the foreground here, supported by bass and drums. The usual fare, in other words. Some of the music is also pastoral too. But the main sound is as described over.

The quality is superb throughout. The title track is some of the best English symphonic prog I have heard outside the Genesis and Yes camps. My only gripe about this album is the lack of some contrasts. But this album is mostly superb and really interesting. In other words, it is a very good addition to anyone's record collection.

4 stars

 Oceanworld by AUTUMN album cover Studio Album, 1999
3.91 | 45 ratings

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Oceanworld
Autumn Symphonic Prog

Review by Tarcisio Moura
Prog Reviewer

4 stars Sometimes you´ll stumble upon a rare prog gem and you´ll be filled with the joys of a rare discover. Well, that´s the feelingn I got when I heard Oceanworld. The album was only relased in 1998, although it was recorded twenty years earlier. In hindsight It is easy to understand why this magnificent work was not available before: it´s pure instrumental synmphonic rock, something totally unfashionable (and therefore unmarketable in the recording companies eyes) for 1978. Alas, a mere two years before and it probably would be a different story. Sad, but true.

Anyway, I´m glad that at least this wonderful piece of music is available at last. Formed by early Enid memer (and later to play with Steve Hackett) keyboardsman Nick Magnus and drummer Robbie Dobson (another former Enid and future Hawkind player), plus guitarrist Mark Easton and bassist Steve Hoff, Autum delivered an astonishing powerful symphonic sound that shows enormous classical influences, plus hints of great 70´s classic bands like Yes, Genesis and Focus. The music is highly melodic, elaborated, complex and yet accessible, with great musicanship of all involved. They are so good you won´t miss a singer in any moment. The only flaw Oceanworld has is its very short time (36 minutes of music in all). However, ther are no fillers and all the songs are of high caliber. It´s the kind of CD you put to play again and again.

If you like 70´s symphonic rock, this is a must have. Think of Wakeman-like keyboards, Chris Squire-ish bass lines, a guitarrist that reeks of Howe/Hackett/Akkermann styles combined in one and a inventive drummer. Voilá! You have an idea of Autum was. Outstanding instrumental bliss. Ok, they weren´t all that original, but they had their own personality already and their songwriting skills were very high. Certainly this band would evolve into something very big had they stayed together and the times were not so bad for prog acts in general when they appeared. Sad story, but great record. 4.5 stars. Highly recommended to all the symphonic prog freaks like me.

 Oceanworld by AUTUMN album cover Studio Album, 1999
3.91 | 45 ratings

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Oceanworld
Autumn Symphonic Prog

Review by Marty McFly
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

4 stars This is how we all dream that 70s sounds. Or at least me, because this album shows exactly most of ingredients that makes Prog so interesting. Showcase, shopping window of Golden Prog Era.

It's all instrumental, so this may be problem for some, but I personally can appreciate it even more. Vocals can be pleasant, or annoying. Or average, but most of the times, they divide people on fans/haters. There are people who will never enjoy Yes because of Jon Anderson. Here, it works, because there's no obstacle in way.

Camel, that's main influence (and similarity) here and also here you will find great melodies. That's what's going on here. Nothing poppy, this is taking land of beautiful tunes from completely different direction, "Oceanworld" is Symphonic to each and every meaning of this word. I mean original meaning. There was also Cathedral mentioned in one of the previous reviews - indeed, I like both (Camel / Cathedral) and sadly, this group didn't release more albums. They would be welcomed a lot.

5(-) if you ask me.

 Oceanworld by AUTUMN album cover Studio Album, 1999
3.91 | 45 ratings

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Oceanworld
Autumn Symphonic Prog

Review by erik neuteboom
Prog Reviewer

3 stars A sticker on the front cover mentiones this: "Unrealesed original 1977 recordings featuring pre-Steve Hackett, pre-Hawkwind, ex-Enid". Well, at least this should appeal to some progheads I presume ...?! The most prominent member on this CD is Nick Magnus, once embellishing The Steve Hackett Band with his wide range of vintage keyboards (Mellotron!!). On most of the five compositions Nick delivers varied and pleasant keyboard work: jazzy play on the Fender Rhodes electric piano, swinging notes from the exciting Hohner D6 clavinet and nice work on the Vox String Thing and Mini Korg 7005. Guitar player Mark Easton often evokes a certain Stephen Hackett (flowing, melodic and frequent use of the volume pedal), especially in the titletrack. In Some Like It Crunchy fiery electric guitar is followed by wonderful strings and a long and exciting synthesizer solo, accompanied by acoustic rhythm-guitar ("did anyone say Cinema Show?"). The final part delivers great guitar and pleasant clavinet runs. That clavinet is also omnipresent in the tracks Little Finger and The Celebrated Court Jester (in both blended with beautiful strings and varied guitar work). The rhythm- section does a good job (Robbie Dobson once joined The Enid and Hawkwind), the musicians on this CD are outstanding! The running time is only 36 minutes but the mid- price eases this pain ...


 Oceanworld by AUTUMN album cover Studio Album, 1999
3.91 | 45 ratings

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Oceanworld
Autumn Symphonic Prog

Review by Dan Yaron

4 stars Oceanworld by Autumn is such a fine record. It offers only instrumental tracks, and these tracks are played well. These tracks are awesome. If you dig bands that play instrumental stuff, but they put all their best efforts into their music, this is the album for you.This stuff reminds indeed of Camel, but it also reminds me of some other prog bands such as Yes, Gryphon, Gentle Giant, Happy The Man and so on. I can't think of any other names, however, it's really good. You can hear on this record the breathtakingly melodies that we like from the golden years of prog (the seventies if you haven't guessed yet). In short, I recommend you get this cd, because such melodies that you cannot find in pop albums or neo prog albums can be heard here!
 Oceanworld by AUTUMN album cover Studio Album, 1999
3.91 | 45 ratings

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Oceanworld
Autumn Symphonic Prog

Review by camel.kg

5 stars This Band is amazing.And music too.I think its similiar to some Camel ,Cathedral,and Mirthrandir works.Great swirling bass,a melodic guitar,superb and long keyboards passages.Drums - great:). The 1 track "Oceanworld" is the magnum opus of this band.And mayby 2 track.How about tempo,rythm?Yeaa,sometimes slow,sometimes fast.Great changing.All track are instrumental.I recomend this album everyone who's like Yes,Camel,Mirthrandir,Cathedral etc.

5 stars - with no doubt

Thanks to ProgLucky for the artist addition. and to Quinino for the last updates

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