SURSUM CORDA

When you hear that a guitar-free trio are playing symphonic prog, of course your thoughts are likely going to instantly turn to the likes of Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Triumvirat, and perhaps Trace. But despite the same set-up of keyboards, bass and drums, American rockers Quill were more than mere clones, and while they may not have been especially original, they absolutely had plenty of technical skill and ambition.

Two side-long suites cover Quill's sole 1977 release `Sursum Corda' (which translates from Latin as `Lift up your hearts'), although at the time of recording the album was only ever pressed as a promo LP (it's since been rescued from prog oblivion by way of a CD reissue from Syn-Phonic Records). A concept described as `a musical fantasy story of a complete and separate world which you can enter in and travel about, staying as long as you wish' should instantly convey the lyrical mindset of the group, and their music offers plenty of eclectic variety and winning symphonic themes to accompany the idea.

The sparkling piano, gentle chimes and softly murmuring bass that open the A side's `First Movement'' are quickly hit with peppy Moog runs and rattling drumming. Before long, a dizzying array of stop-start intervals and abrupt direction/tempo changes set much of the template for the rest of the disc, with memorable reprising symphonic themes, and while the vocals may not be the strongest, there's a meek and dignified quality that holds plenty of charm to them (and really, who listens to prog albums for the vocals?!). Some spacey synth coatings call to mind German band Eloy throughout the first extended piece, and the lengthy and frantic keyboard frenzy that closes this side has all the muscular bluster of the classic EL&P albums.

The flip ratchets up plenty of madrigal-like moments backed by regal organ pomp that stirs and swoons with fancy. Considering the band were American, there's never even a trace of them resembling anything similar to the big US prog-related bands of the time, and, if anything, this second suite touches more on the romance of symphonic Italian groups like Le Orme. Also, lyrically and instrumentally, it wouldn't be difficult to imagine a modern symphonic band like Glass Hammer taking notice of this one. The side-long epic flows with effortless grace lifted by a proud vocal, all performed with finesse and power by this talented band.

Quill would implode shortly after this effort, but they left behind a very underappreciated obscurity in `Sursum Corda', one of plentiful keyboard colour, imaginative variety and skilled musicianship that makes it well deserving of rediscovery by symphonic fans.

Three and a half stars (rounded up to four).