FROM THE PURPLE SKIES

WICKED MINDS are from Italy and they play a URIAH HEEP / DEEP PURPLE style of music although they throw in some psychedelia. Lots of Hammond organ and guitar in this one. It took me a long time to track down this album, but was it ever worth it !

The first track "From The Purple Skies" starts out spacey, but is soon dominated by the Hammond organ, and check out the guitar solo before 4 minutes. This sounds like it came right out of the seventies. "The Elephant Stone" starts with the focus on the vocals and organ. Nice guitar solo before a minute. I like when it slows down before 2 1/2 minutes with psychedelic vocals. It kicks back in. "Drifting" as the title suggests is dreamy at times with some beautiful flute. Some aggressive moments too though. "Across The Sunrise" begins with mellotron as drums beat. The guitar starts to solo as the organ joins in. Great sound. Vocals don't come in until after 4 minutes. "Forever My Queen" is sung by the lead guitarist and is a heavy, SABBATH-like song. Nice. "Rising Above" has a DOORS sound to the organ, a real 60's psychedelic sound to this one. Love the guitar after 2 1/2 minutes and later. "Queen Of Violet" opens with distorted SABBATH-like guitar as drums pound then the organ kicks in. A calm with almost whispered vocals before they kick in. Some amazing guitar in this one. "Space Child" is dedicated to Lucio's two children. Overall it's pretty mellow with soft vocals and lots of flute. It does break out at times though. Ripping guitar before 7 1/2 minutes that goes on and on. "Gypsy" is a URIAH HEEP cover. It sounds like Jon Lord on the organ though, an infectious beat to this one.The last song, the epic at over 18 minutes in length and the best song title i've heard in a long time. It's called "Return To Uranus". This song has lot's of time changes, some psychedelic guitar playing, as well as an awesome Gilmour-like guitar solo. Lot's of organ and flute too. Just a monster song from the purple skies !

Highly recommended if there was any doubt.