MOLDAU

This German band released some good albums during the early seventies. After a debut on the hard edge of the symphonic prog, their next two releases were borrowing classical themes mixed with some prog sauce and the combination was quite good. They tried to perpetrate the experience during their last studio album, but the mayonnaise was not as tasty.

Two important band members: Schmidt and Pusch were using the Pell Mell name again with the help of Fricke (guitar) and Rehlich (bass).

The result is actually very pleasant. This might well be their most symphonic album of all. Very much early Genesis oriented, the closing epic Dark Valley is one of the best songs they have written. Sophisticated, very melodic, it features some wonderful and tranquil passages. Those are extremely pleasant to listen to: you just need to press the start button and listen to this enjoyable instrumental piece. Excellent, really.

The opening suite Moldau is another epic. It is more ELP-ish driven, and sounds at times German oriented. Kind of military march or so. The tact and subtlety of Dark Valley is not really reproduced and this long song (almost nineteen minutes) is not thrilling; at least for about eight minutes.

It is the moment for the gentle music takes back its prerogative and again, it is another fine symphonic moment, close to From The New World or Rhapsody for the classical atmosphere.

This album would have been a very good one if only Dark Valley would have had greater counterparts. But the short and repetitive Gliding and the average Moldau prevents me to rate this album with more than three stars. But it is still a good surprise.