SPARTACUS

Although not quite as good as the previous Illusions On A Double Dimple album, (What is?), Spartacus by Triumvirat is part of what qualifies one of the pinnacles of the group's musical achievements, and some of the best progressive rock in the seventies, period. This type of progressive music was also sometimes known at the time as "classical rock", with an abundance of little excerpts directly from classical music in the compositions.

Spartacus is a concept album depicting the story of the famous gladiator who led a revolt against Rome. I, generally speaking, am not a big fan of vocals, but Helmut Koellen is so good at it , that i find myself really able to appreciate such things; he does not have to scream or shriek as many rockers do, and such a natural at singing is pretty convincing on Spartacus without a need for that.

This record is so well done, it is better than any of ELP's, and though Spartacus was mainly a hit in America, you can tell by the atmosphere created in the music that this is a group from continental Europe-a source of a lot of the greatest progressive music.

Spartacus is catchy, but also cerebral, a thrill to listen to, and is really well-produced and engineered, as well as being deeply heart-felt music. Instead of two long suites like on their previous record, the tracks on this one are shorter, but more to the point-the group play tight and the music is almost as eloquent and instrumentally intriguing as Illusions On A Double Dimple. In listening to Spartacus, Triumvirat are a group that can say more musically in four minutes than other bands do in ten or fifteen. I never really tire of this record.

Vocalist/Guitar Player Helmut Koellen left the band just after touring in support of Spartacus to pursue a solo career, and though he briefly returned to the band, his departure kind of shook up things.The good news is that Helmut recorded a solo album that was released later called You Won't See Me. Spartacus is something that no rock music fan of the seventies should be without-a true essential!