SIDES

A progressive rock album from 1979 ? No way, this can't be ! In 1979 progressive rock was a symbol for boring old bastards. Image was getting more important than music then and albums had to include singles, long tracks weren't aloud in the music business. This issue is the subject of the lyric of the opening track of Sides : "Um & Aargh". Though the organ monkey screams still he goes through the dance routines. The album is called sides because there's one side full of pop tracks and the next side is progressive stuff. There are not many moments I like to listen to the pop side. "Lucy will" is a nice ballad that could have been included on Ant's previous album. Like I said, Um & Aargh is another lovely track due to the funny lyrics. Other songs on this side are a waste of time unless you like to listen to eighties pop tracks by Genesis. Musical greatness starts on track no 7. "Sisters of Remindum" is a grand symphonic opening which has big keys and nice piano on it. Bleak house is a Genesis ballad with a sense of melancholy. Splendid ! When you hear this you wished Ant had never left Genesis like he did in 1971 due to the cause of being frightened on a stage. "Magdalen" is another (acoustic) guitar driven ballad, sang by Ant himself. You hear 4 different voices on this album which is a good thing, Ant may be a talented guitar and keyboard player, he's not the best singer you can imagine. Other well known musicians included on this album are the likes of Mel Collins, Morris Pert and Mike Giles from King Crimson. "Nightmare" is another instrumental epic which is timeless. After hearing this stunning track, your keep hearing its melody in your head. "Souvenir" and an instrumental version of "Magdalen" are the bonus tracks for the cd version. I do prefer this release to "Wise after the event".