FOUR MOMENTS

I classify "Four Moments" in a similar slot to Mandalaband, both groups that produced quasi or blatantly religious progressive mellotron oriented work in the mid to late 1970s that sounds like it came from the early 1970s. Since not a lot of such material exists, they are noteworthy on that basis alone. Sebastian Hardie is also from down under which is an additional fairly unique aspect. My review is based on the LP.

This is not demanding progressive rock, but if you enjoy recurring pleasant melodies, uplifting vocals, lots of keyboards especially mellotron, and occasional bursts of gentler Jan Akkerman styled lead guitar, this one's for you. The first side of the original LP is dedicated to a suite of songs run together, and several of the themes repeat from part to part, both vocally and instrumentally. Mario Millo's vocals are somewhat to the plus side of nondescript. "Glories Shall be Released" adds creative harmonies to that uptempo mix before the "Moments" main mellotron theme is expressed vocally and re-iterated on lead guitar. Quite lovely really. "Dawn of our Sun" is introduced by a mellotron flute melody which Millo follows up vocally, and it includes a spacey guitar backing. Another languid and pretty lead guitar solo closes things out. The band's willingness to double-team both guitars and keys creates a lush atmosphere that, while perhaps not easily duplicated in a live setting, makes a studio recording more varied and worth revisiting.

Side 2 is entirely instrumental and highlights, surprise, more mellotron and guitar. "Rosanna" is pleasant enough, but the oddly titled closer "Openings", is for me the highlight of the proceedings. It is a prog fan's delight, a recurring melodic lead guitar theme that appears in many guises - fast, slow, hard, soft, with mellotron never far away. There is even a brilliant mellotron solo if you will. Yes the track has a monstrous case of self indulgence, but I feel it is merited here.

If you are a fan of mellow-tron music, this album will probably pass like one moving moment.