TARDIGRADE

After the release of their captivating CD Paradise Square and splendid contribution to the 2-CD Odyssey entitled The Greatest Tale I have become a Simon Says fan so I was very curious to this new release album.

Well, halfway my first listening session I quickly concluded that Tardigrade is very worth listening and after two listening sessions it's even on the brink of being superior to Paradise Square! I am delighted about the lush vintage keyboard sound, what a cascade of Mellotron waves, Moog sounds and Hammond organ runs, especially in the alternating opener Suddenly The Rain (fiery guitar, heavy Hammond, flashy Moog flights, the sound of a steel-guitar and a bombastic interlude with majestic choir-Mellotron), As The River Runs (spectaculare Moog sounds and wah-wah - and steel guitar blended with Hammond and Mellotron) and my absolute highlight, the epic (more than 25 minutes) Brother New Day that contains many instrumental parts including a sensational break with pleasant synthesizer work, wah-wah guitar and choir-Mellotron like Howe and Wakeman, sparkling piano, fat Moog runs like early Keith Emerson and frequently exciting interplay between guitar and keyboards. In some tracks you can enjoy the sound of the vocoder (like Mr. Blue Sky by ELO) and I love the song Moon Mountain with a wonderful blend of classical - and electric guitar, like a duet by Hackett and Howe. I would like to end this review with the remark that the distinctive, slightly theatrical vocals will not be everybody's cup of tea but to me it's not a problem and many parts on this CD are instrumental.

I am glad that Simon Says have continued to make captivating progrock, this new studio album deserves 4 solid stars, I hope you will share my enthousiasm (like my Brasilian PA friend Tarcisio did, obrigado), what an exciting sound, especially the vintage keyboard aficionados will often be carried away to cloud #9!

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