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    Posted: December 18 2010 at 20:48
I just heard this band's 1974 album Red Queen To Gryphon Three for the first time and I *really* like it. Usually I prefer things from the harder end of the spectrum but this one won me over, gentle and joyful though it is. Their lengthy instrumentals are dynamic, diverse, interesting and inventive. A playful and well executed medieval flavour, reminiscent of Romantic Warrior yet perhaps better executed.
 
For some reason Gryphon are one of those bands that slipped through the cracks. If you've never tried them, give RQTGT (by all accounts their best, though I haven't heard the others) a spin.
 
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Points: 15783 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 18 2010 at 21:14
They used to be discussed here pretty frequently. Still haven't checked them out. 

Edited by Equality 7-2521 - December 18 2010 at 21:15
"One had to be a Newton to notice that the moon is falling, when everyone sees that it doesn't fall. "
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Points: 221 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 18 2010 at 21:23
Then, sir, you have no comment. Right?
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Points: 15783 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 18 2010 at 21:26
If I had no comment my post would have been blank and probably soon deleted by the mods. 
"One had to be a Newton to notice that the moon is falling, when everyone sees that it doesn't fall. "
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Points: 9869 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 18 2010 at 21:55
The only one I have heard is Red Queen to Gryphon Three and yes, a great album.  Thumbs Up
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Points: 1902 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 18 2010 at 21:58
Like the others here, I only have RQTGT and it is quite good.
 
Nothing spectacular but it's a nice little album.
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Points: 29625 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 19 2010 at 03:53
I've had Raindance on LP for many years and was familiar with the Red Queen from way back.  Actually just got one of those this year.  It was overshadowed by some other stuff I got around the same time.  Probably in need of a sit down and listen.
Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Points: 11415 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 19 2010 at 05:18
Yep, RQTG3 is a goodie (and there are some incredibly complex musical arrangements on a par with Gentle Giant to boot)

The debut album is a LOT more traditional (but still enjoyable) and consists of mainly faithful reproductions of medieval tunes and songs.
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Points: 13233 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 19 2010 at 05:36
Red Queen is a great album, and rightly lauded. I need to expand my collection from this band.
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Points: 32995 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 19 2010 at 05:41
I was a bit obsessed by that album for a while.
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Points: 4411 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 19 2010 at 12:52
I have all their albums. Just bought the recent Treasure's remaster about 6 months ago.

I agree that Red Queen... is their best and not only... it's also in my top 5 albums ever!

About Treason: I was not disappointed. Ok it is less folk and have more than a Yes' flavour but it's still of high standard of quality.... just listen to the 10 mns SPRING SONG to believe!


Edited by Andrea Cortese - December 19 2010 at 12:52
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Points: 2618 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 19 2010 at 14:08
I think their first 3 albums are very better than Their last 2 albums.  In my opinion "Midnight Mushrumps" is a great album and masterpiece and its better than "Red Queen..." . The title track is a fantastic 19min epic song. Its remind me Mike oldfield's "ommadawn". MM is very complex song and its full of great melodies that connect to each other very cleverly. Each of these melodies make a musical piece and each piece has own accompmanent and chords. I try to say MM built by some musical pieces and each piece is like a song. I mean this song created by some seperate small songs and each of these small songs made around a great melody. I saw this kind of composing in some of Mike Oldfield's albums and I like it. Arrangement is very important in this style and I think Gryphone did it very well in MM. You can see this style in short songs of the MM album too. Finally I think MM is their best album.
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Points: 4675 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 19 2010 at 14:22
Interesting. I've listened to RQTG3, Midnight Mushrumps and the s/t several times, but I could never get into them. Great instrumentalists, but I simply couldn't find the outcome of their work exciting. I suppose I'll have to listen again sometimes.
Property of Queen Productions...
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Points: 4411 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 19 2010 at 14:29
^^^

Red Queen is very different from their previous output.

And another highlight is Hein Klein Hendenleben... wow... the sound is a bit rusty but it's a strong epic composition.
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Points: 32995 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 19 2010 at 14:41
Originally posted by Lizzy Lizzy wrote:

Interesting. I've listened to RQTG3, Midnight Mushrumps and the s/t several times, but I could never get into them. Great instrumentalists, but I simply couldn't find the outcome of their work exciting. I suppose I'll have to listen again sometimes.

There is no real outcome I suppose..I just enjoy the journey.
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Points: 4411 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 19 2010 at 14:59
^^^

eh eh ehehhe me too.

BTW, if the listener wants them to rock then he has to go with their last three. If he's more into their folky-medieval sound (even adventurous as Midnight Mushrumps) then the first two have to be the choice.


Edited by Andrea Cortese - December 19 2010 at 15:01
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Points: 2084 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 19 2010 at 16:55
Love the Midnight Mushrump suite....music that accompanied a presentation of the S'speare play the Tempest in the spring 0f '74.  One of my favorite of the Bard's plays....must have been one cool production.
 
The Amazing Blondel and Gryphon are two great bands that put a modernish twist on olde English music.
 
Their later is stuff is OK.....Red Queen has a lot to recommend but, to me, doesn't come close to the music on the first two albums.
 
Has anyone heard any of the tapes of the Gryphon portion of the Yes Relayer tour?
I like to feel the suspense when you're certain you know I am there.....
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Points: 94 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 21 2010 at 09:19
Gryphon has always been one of my favourite bands ever, since I first heard Raindance in 1976, and I've always been amazed by the musicians' skill, to say nothing of writing talents.
I dare say that I love Gryphon's stuff because it's so... empathic with my mind: I recognize the melodic / harmonic / rhytm lines and patterns as they would have written by myself.
Perhaps that's why I got friend with the band members (I met Gulland in 1979) and I was very glad to get an invitation for their reunion concert (and dinner, later) last year. 
An amazing night with Harvey, Gulland, Taylor, Oberlé, Jon Davie and Graham Preskett.
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Points: 32 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 21 2010 at 09:39
I am enjoying the track in the OP.
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Points: 12348 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 21 2010 at 09:45
One of my favorite bands of all times.
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