SYMPHONIC PICTURES

This review is from: Symphonic Pictures (Audio CD Esoteric Reactive 2010 Reissue ) With more Mellotrons and Metallophones than you can shake a stick at, this album demonstrates perfectly the mid '70's ethic of music for music's sake. It is immaculately played and composed instrumental music, and delivers on every level.

Recorded at the legendary Dierks studio in Germany, this is a beautiful sounding record consisting of five pieces, four short and one `epic' called `Pictures'. (every progressive album worth it's salt has to have a side long epic, and for every tiresome hipster who insists that three minutes is all you need, there's someone like me who likes it when bands use 20 minutes instead).

The sleevenotes make mention of Emerson Lake and Palmer, but whilst the line-up is similar (minus the vocals) the music is less bombastic and technically dazzling, and more rounded and `warm' sounding. I would compare it more to the likes of Camel in terms of melodic appeal, although there are `darker' influences in there too. There are beautiful gentle sections with tuned percussion and mellotron, contrasted with full blown Keys, Bass and Drums. It holds the attention throughout many interesting twists and turns and is a great listen, especially if you can't get enough of the Mellotrons and Moogs ! Highly recommended to afficionados of adventurous instrumental rock and for whom punk never happened.

This wonderful sounding reissue comes with a bonus disc of the band recorded live at the time. The sound quality is slightly disappointing, but still highly listenable, and seeing as this album was once available seperately it can indeed be regarded as a welcome bonus.

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