RHAPSODY

Pell Mell

Symphonic Prog

3.29 | 42 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

ZowieZiggy
Prog Reviewer

If you have ever dreamed of a softer, less pompous, more delicate ELP, I suggest you to listen to this album.

The concept is now well know: you take a classical theme and revamp it in a progressive rock clothes. Some like it, others hate it. I would say that I can like it or not, it depends. But still, I prefer this approach to the one of a prog rock band who is playing their own music with a classical orchestra.

The music which is proposed during the suite "Rhapsody" is at time brilliant, bombastic but it also hold what is scarcely heard on an ELP song: delicacy. You'll listen to some beautiful and moving fluting passages, raving violin parts and subtle acoustic guitar breaks which are a fine counterpart to the huge organ sections that are one of the major aspects of Pell Mell's music.

This prog rock band is also playing classical music (do you still follow me), and serves a fine piano part called "Prelude" (I have already heard of such title.). But Pell Mell rocks as well and throw tons of heavy organ and electric guitar in the basket: "Desert In Your Mind" indicates this capability fairly well. Unfortunately, vocals are below average (but this is not often an asset for German bands).

To complete the picture, the band can also play some mellowish (and dull) ballad. But "The Riot" (strange title for this syrupy track) is the only flaw of this good album.

The closing and bombastic "Paris The Past" is a good and condensed version of the album: childish vocals, skilled violin play and pleasant keys, especially during the final piano part. For the very first time as well, some funky mood appears as well. To be honest, I could have lived pretty well without it.

This is an enjoyable album which fully deserves the three star rating. Voil�!

ZowieZiggy | 3/5 | 2008-10-29

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