MECHANICAL MOONBEAMS

Good action from UK label Esoteric Recordings to reissue original prog albums as remasters, including a booklet with the history, pictures and additional information. From Procol Harum, BJH and Colosseum II to Chris Squire, Steve Hackett, Hawkwind and, last but not least, Belgian prog band Machiavel. Their second album Jester has also been remastered, but I prefer their more mature and elaborate third album Mechanical Moonbeams. I am not going to talk about the mindblowing cover art, in order to avoid automatical censorship from PA. At that point, I miss the original fold out covers from the size of LP's!

On this third album Machiavel succeed to create more an own musical face, especially with the tension between the mellow and bombastic parts, coloured with a variety of instruments, from twanging 12-string acoustic guitars and fiery electric guitar work to a wide range of vintage keyboards.

The opener Beyond The Silence has a very high ranking in my 'Most Memorable Mighty Mellotron Moments': the unsurpassed Mellotron choir section is wonderfully blended in the contrasting atmospheres, especially in the up- tempo beat with a thunderous rhythm-section, propulsive guitar riffs, dazzling Minimoog flights, inspired vocals and ultra-bombastic Mellotron choirs, goose bumps!

Then in every track on this album a lot of variety and interesting musical ideas.

Rope Dancer and Mary: Dreamy with warm vocals and twanging acoustic guitars, topped by tender vocals, subtle Mellotron drops and synthesizer flights.

Summon Up Your Strength : A raw R&R voice and in the end fiery electric guitar runs.

Rebirth :.It starts dreamy with a tender voice and vocal harmonies, then a swinging break with sparkling Grand piano, propulsive guitar riffs, a dynamic rhythm-section and lush Mellotron choirs and subtle guitar play. Then the music slows down with vocal harmonies, soaring keyboards, culminating in a mid-tempo beat with a long Minimoog solo, wonderful symphonic rock!

The Fifth Season: First mellow with soft Mellotron choirs drops and slow Minimoog runs, topped with pleasant vocal harmonies. Then an accellaration with swinging synthesizer work. And finally majestic Mellotron choirs with a moving guitar solo, including howling runs.

My highlight is the longest track After The Crop. First dreamy, then compelling with fat bass pedals and slow synthesizer runs, halfway a moving guitar solo. In the second part we are on our way to Prog Heaven featuring breathtaking Mellotron choirs waves, fat Minimoog flights, propulsive guitar riffs and wah-wah guitar, topped with powerful R&R vocals, wow, goose bumps!

The two bonustracks Wind Of Life and the demo I'm Not A Loser are nice additions, no more or less. Wonderful use of melody and harmony, captivating tension between mellow and bombastic parts, pleasant vocals and a varied instrumentation, from warm twanging acoustic guitars to sumptuous Mellotron choir outbursts, what an excellent album, highly recommended!

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