THE UNDERFALL YARD

The instrumental opening number (except some short vocalizing) from this album is quite remarkable. It is full of optimism, delight, freshness and wonderful keyboards and fluting. A real great start to tell the truth where the influence of the mighty "Yes" is obvious and the whole sounds pretty much as the "Gates Of Delirium" / "Awaken" period to my ears.

What comes afterwards is still very skilled but so much cliché again. "Victorian Brickwork" is a good song but so much borrowed to "Yes" and "Genesis" that it falls a bit flat. The closing section, with sweet sax and an orgy of symphonic keys is truly poignant and beautiful though.

The whole album provides splendid mellotron passages, superb melodies, sweet keyboards, nice fluting here and there ("Winchester Driver") and a very warm feeling. This is the type of music that should please any symphonic prog fan, provided that you accept the pastiche side of the work?Some Gabriel feel as well during this fine song.

The same characteristics are available during "The Underfall Yard" (the title track) which is a kaleidoscope of the band's ability in playing enjoyable music. Fully neo-prog oriented, but with talent during this epic song (almost twenty-three minutes).

All in all, this is a very good moment of music. My rating is four stars; but be aware if you can't stand regressive music.