SUMMER IN TOWN

It's a shame and a mystery that I haven't heard about the Russian band HORIZONT before. The opening track "Snowballs" are one of the better progressive songs I have ever heard. The band was formed in the mid-seventies and their debut LP "Summer in Town" was originally released in 1985 on the Russian Melodiya label. Now it has been re-released on CD, thanks to the Boheme Music label. The band is lead by the keyboard player Sergey Kornilov and he has also written all of the compositions. Therefor the music is very keyboard-oriented, although every musician is highly technical and skilled. The main part of the album is all-instrumental album, but the melodies and harmonies are so strong that you'll never miss the vocals. It ranges from quiet and beautiful to bombastic and complex. HORIZONT are calling themselves a Chamber Instrumental Ensemble. I don't know exactly what they're meaning, but their music is a mix between art-rock, avant-garde, neo-classical music, 70's progressive & symphonic rock. 80's neo-progressive rock, RIO (Rock In Opposition) and Zeuhl. I can hear reminiscences to EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER, GENESIS, KING CRIMSON, KULTIVATOR, MAGMA, PRESENT and YES. There are only three tracks on the album and they are ranging from 8 to 19 minutes. I should also mention the beautiful seventies looking front cover. This is without doubt one of the better releases ever from this corner of the world, and it has become one of my favourite albums. A classic album that deserves it's place in the history of progressive rock. What else can I say but: Buy it! Buy it! Buy it!