YOU & I

''Amenophis'' was a great album, but as expected it only sold a few hundred copies in mid-80's with Prog Rock being totally out of fashion.The band dissolved, but in 1987 Music Is Intelligence showed some interest in this release and decided to offer the band a chance to record a second album under professional circumstances.Wolfgang Vollmuth and Michael Roessmann reformed Amenophis without Stefan Roessmann, who faced some health problems, and they were joined by Elke Moehrle on vocals Kurt Poppe on keyboards and Rene Kius on drums.The album ''You and I'' was recorded in two weeks and released in spring 1988.

I admit that there are quite a few reasons to dislike this album, the main ones being the accesible tunes of a Pop quality, but consider that bands like Pendragon and IQ were facing the same problems in late-80's, struggling to find a balance between progressive and poppy vibes.The truth is that Amenophis had intentionally produced an album half split between straightforward songs and more proggy overtones.During the later ones they had quit from their big symphonic sound with the strong Teutonic edge of the debut, but they still retained the symphonic qualities and refined arrangements of the period.They just seem to sound closer to IQ or MARILLION in these pieces, maybe with bits of ROUSSEAU, which are dominated by great keyboard layers, symphonic background orchestrations, melodic guitar solos and sentimental male and female voices.The level of the compositions is pretty good with a familiar German aura and even some complex themes, mainly based on keyboards and synthesizers.The more accesible tracks are ranging from decent to uninteresting, some of them feature influences from Classic Rock, Jazz and Acoustic Music, but the good thing is that in big part of them the band always throws in a few proggy twists, while the melodies are memorable and well-crafted.

Underrated album from the worst period for progressive music.Good Neo Prog with hints from Amenophis' recent past, based on less complicated ideas and leaning towards more melodic lines.Recommended.