ELYSIUM

This virtually unknown Zurich based band released only one very poorly distributed album in 1981, several years after prog was well along in its descent from the mainstream. They have been compared to STRAWBS by some sellers, based mostly on the folk orientation and the vocal timbre of Pino Panduri, but they are more keyboard (strong synth) oriented, brandish less electric guitar, vocals tend to the les dramatic, and are unselfish with Beat Blaser's flute. While this might suggest an early GENESIS or CAMEL comparison, that too is tenuous as ELYSIUM is more consistently mellow. The frequent electric piano vaguely invokes SUPERTRAMP, but really I find more similarities to EELA CRAIG and newly revived Italian band LETHE in mood and affect. The singer also sounds most like Dave Bell of DECAMERON. Anyways, enough of the comparisons! Can this hold up on its own?

Basically, yes, as while it's a homage to the dearly departed golden era, 3 out of the 7 tracks are fully engaged: "Hoodwinked", "After Eight" and "Fogdays" winningly combine all the above attributes, in particular variations of pace, atmospheres thick with imagery, well placed electric guitar solos, and string synths played in a mellotronic style. The themes of aging seem oddly prevalent for what was probably a young group at the time, and get a bit sappy in the closer, but really nothing here is embarrassing except the riseable vinyl crackles on this dire remaster. Ugh.

While not merely collector's fodder, Fogdays is a congenial production that is not quite consistent enough to be judged as an obscure classic.

Interesting album from a very unknown Swiss band. The sound of the album is very characteristic for an early 80s release, particularly the drums and synth sounds, giving it a certain neo-prog feel.

The main elements of the album are that the songs are more on the mellow and atmospheric side, with long passages dominated by string synths and either flute or guitar soloing. Not that there aren't more energetic or aggressive bits, but they are not predominant. There are some acoustic passages here and there as well, but the keyboards are the main instrument. The vocals are emotional and have a good link to Italian prog bands of the 70s.

As for the songs, the best ones are the four songs over seven minutes, with long instrumental passages and changes. After Eight is the one that pleases me most because there is a good balance between atmospheric and energetic passages, with lots of different synth sounds. Even the shorter songs are good, just less "prog" than the others.

Since it is a rare album, I wouldn't say it is an album every prog fan should seek, but if you come across it, it is a great purchase, especially for those who like symphonic and neo- prog.