RIDING ON A TEAR

An absolutely stunning German symphonic one-off, this is the work of an accomplished band in every sense, from the well developed melodies to the rich organ/bass interplays to the solid English vocals mixed at precisely the right level. While the keys and rhythym section are to the fore, and no better illustrated than in the brilliant "Walking through the Woods" with its fluid synths that shift into turbo about halfway through, some fine guitar parts appear in such tracks as the bonus closer, "Back Home". This is not a particularly German sounding album although some characteristic spaciness creeps in as well as spoken parts, occasional distorted vocals and rants, but they are so adeptly integrated and understated as to remain eminently listenable at all times. In particular "Requiem Part 2" could lay claim to being Zomby Woof's take on "Solar Music" as immortalized by Grobschnitt. Riding on a Tear is a 1970s gem of German symphonic progressive rock that I cannot recommend highly enough.